Kimble goes a combined 7-for-7 as Eutectics split with Stephens

COLUMBIA, MO – The Eutectic offense struggled in game one Saturday against Stephens, spoiling a solid pitching performance from freshman Anna Lucas in a 3-1 loss to the Stars. That offense broke out in game two with 15 runs on 19 hits in a 15-5 blowout win over Stephens.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

GAME 1 – STEPHENS 3, UHSP 1

• The Stars scored three runs on three hits in the second to take a 3-0 lead. A two-out error allowed for a pair of unearned runs to fuel the inning.
• UHSP's lone run came when Hallie Roper singled home Alicia Kimble with two outs in the third. Kimble went 3-for-3 in the game and Roper was 2-for-3 as the pair accounted for five of the Eutectic six hits.
• Anna Lucas was good in the circle despite the loss (3-3) as she went all six frames striking out four and walking two. The three runs allowed came on seven hits.
• Katie Dennis picked up the win (2-4) giving the lone run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

GAME 2 – UHSP 15, STEPHENS 5

• Despite falling behind 1-0, UHSP jumped in front with a three-run second. The inning was aided by a pair of Stephens' errors, one that Trysten Murphy reached and drove in a run on, and another that allowed Murphy to eventually score. A clean RBI single from Alicia Kimble capped the frame for a 3-1 Eutectic lead.
• The Stars answered right back in the bottom of the second with a Leanna Mitts RBI double sandwiched around a pair of RBI singles as it was 4-3 after two.
• Kimble was at it again in the fourth with an RBI hit that drove in Murphy to tie the game at four. Kimble was 4-for-4 on the day with a pair of runs scored and two runs batted in.
• The clubs traded runs in the fifth with UHSP's coming on a two-out single from Mackenzie Nelson while Stephens got a solo homer from Elise Kendrick to make it 5-5 after five.
• UHSP ended all discussion with a seven-run sixth which included seven hits. Murphy had the big blow on a two-run homerun, her first of the year. Sydney Hinojosa had an RBI single and both Hunter Noto and Roper had two-run hits. Roper was 3-for-5 in the game.
• Jacy Knox and Hinojosa had RBI singles in the seventh and Ryleigh Davidson delivered a sacrifice fly to finish off the scoring.
• The top five in the Eutectic's order combined to go 12-for-22 (.545).
• Talianna Joyner went six innings in the circle for the win (1-2) as she allowed four runs on six hits, walking two and fanning four.
• Elise Kendrick went 2-for-4 with the homerun, but also suffered the loss (0-5). In 5.2IP, she gave up 12 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Abby Schmidt allowed the final three runs on five hits as she pitched the seventh.
• The 19 hits by the Eutectics are tied for the fifth-most in a single game in program history. The 15 runs and 14 RBI's are both single-season highs for UHSP this year.
• The Eutectics have collected at least five hits in every game this season except their second game of the year, when they were one-hit by Evangel.
• Stephens leads the all-time series 18-7 against UHSP.

NEXT UP:

The Eutectics (10-8, 4-2 AMC) continue an eight-game road trip as they play at Columbia (11-9, 2-2 AMC) for a pair on Saturday and two more on Sunday at Cottey (16-6, 0-0 AMC). Both doubleheaders start at 1:00p.