RICHMOND, Ky. (March 29, 2024) – A pair of NCAA RPI Top 100 teams squared off in Atlantic Sun Conference action Friday, as the University of North Alabama softball team fell on the wrong end of a doubleheader with 9-4 and 1-0 losses at Eastern Kentucky University.
 
The fifth inning proved to be the turning point in both games, as EKU broke a 1-1 tie with a fifth-inning surge in the opener and scored the lone run in the fifth to win the nightcap.
 
Though she did not get the win, junior pitcher Cassidy Duskin found success in her start, going 6.0 innings with just one run, two hits and two walks allowed to go with four strikeouts. Additionally, true freshman Briley Dover hit safely in both games to extend her reached base streak to 15 games.
 
In a battle of ASUN contenders, EKU improved to 26-4 overall and 8-0 in conference games. The Lions fell to 24-11 overall and 5-3 in league matchups. The two will close the series Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
 
Game 1 — EKU 9, North Alabama 4
 
Despite five fielding errors, EKU used seven unearned runs in the fifth inning to pull away from UNA in the opener, winning 9-4.
 
The Lions, who had just two errors, suffered one in the fifth to open the door for an EKU rally. UNA answered with three runs in the sixth, but could not overcome the deficit.
 
After a pair of scoreless frames, EKU struck first with a two-out double from Jeanay Riley to make it 1-0. This ended a six-game scoreless streak for junior pitcher Alivia Wilken that spanned exactly 28.0 innings, dating back to the final out of the third inning against Murray State back on March 9.
 
UNA leveled the score the next half inning, and did so in unconventional fashion. A dropped fly ball allowed leadoff hitter Hailey Jones to coast into second base. She later moved to third after two more EKU errors and scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Sydney Harris.
 
The Colonels regained the lead in the fifth on a dropped fly ball and added six unearned runs after that to make it 8-1.
 
UNA responded with three runs in the sixth inning with an RBI walk by Raegan Clem, a misplayed grounder hit by Jaiden Farnetti and an RBI single by Sidney Bevis. EKU answered with a solo homer and pitcher Tayteum Vigansky came on to close it out in the seventh.
 
The Lions totaled six hits, including two from Bevis and fellow senior Haven Kirby. Dover also had a hit, extending her reached base streak. EKU was led by two-way player Maddi Rutan with a win in the circle and a two-run homer on offense.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Maddi Rutan (14-2)
L – Alivia Wilken (11-5)
S – None
 
Game 2 — EKU 1, North Alabama 0
 
The second game was a pitcher's duel between UNA's Duskin and EKU's Vigansky — who closed game one with a scoreless frame.
 
Both pitchers took shutouts into the fifth inning, but the Colonels broke it up with a sacrifice fly from Kennedy Draftton. Duskin did not allow a hit in that inning, but a walk, hit-by-pitch and groundout allowed the go-ahead run to move 60 feet away.
 
Neither team scored after that, allowing the Colonels to win the series. Despite the loss, Duskin pitched 6.0 innings and allowed just two hits, two walks and four strikeouts. The Lions produced three hits — one each from Bevis, Jones and senior outfielder McKenzie Patterson.
 
Dover and Jones had back-to-back singles in the first inning, sparking early momentum, but EKU stopped Dover from scoring by throwing her out at home after a grounder to third. UNA went on to place two more runners, but could not get them around.
 
Pitchers of Record
W – Tayteum Vigansky (6-1)
L –  Cassidy Duskin (8-5)
S – None
 
COMING UP NEXT
 
The Lions look to salvage the series tomorrow at 11 a.m.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.