RICHMOND, Ky. – Indiana State softball split a pair of games on Saturday at the Colonel Classic, falling 6-2 to Dayton while defeating Eastern Kentucky 4-3 in nine innings.
 
The Sycamores (6-6) bounced back from an afternoon loss to the Flyers to defeat the host Colonels for their second extra-inning victory of the season.
 
Game One
After the top of the second inning, Indiana State held a 2-1 lead over the Flyers following a 2-RBI double from Annie Tokarek but were unable to keep Dayton at bay as they scored five unanswered runs to get the 6-2 win over ISU.
 
Dayton got two runs in the third and added three more in the sixth to round out their scoring for the afternoon.
 
The Sycamores totaled seven hits, getting two each from Tokarek, Danielle Henning and Cassie Thomerson while Maeve McDonough added a pinch-hit single in the top of the seventh.
 
Lexi Benko started in the circle for Indiana State and would take her first loss of the season, allowing four runs across five innings while striking out two. Lauren Sackett also threw an inning in relief.
 
Game Two
Eastern Kentucky got on the board first in Saturday's nightcap, getting a solo home run and a bases-loaded walk to take a 2-0 lead into the third inning.
 
After Danielle Henning reached with a single in the top of the third, Annie Tokarek hit a two-out, two-run home run over the left field fence for her first long ball of the year to level the game at two runs apiece.
 
Following 4.2 innings, the Sycamores replaced starter Cassi Newbanks with Hailey Griffin who entered for just her second appearance of the season. Griffin settled in quickly, getting a pop up to end the fifth inning. She then struck out five across the next two innings including striking out the side in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
 
In extra innings, a runner is placed on second base to begin the inning. Olivia Patton quickly took advantage and drove in Abi Chipps with a single to put ISU in front 3-2. The Colonels would get a run back in the eighth to extend the game.
 
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Maeve McDonough singled up the middle, scoring Hannah Welch to give the Sycamores a 4-3 lead. Lauren Sackett would enter in the bottom of the ninth and strike out a pair en route to the first save of her collegiate career, clinching the 4-3 win for ISU.
 
Griffin earned her first win of the season, throwing 3.1 innings and striking out five while allowing zero earned runs. Starter Cassi Newbanks allowed just two runs and struck out a pair in her 4.2 innings of work.
 
Offensively, Indiana State finished with seven hits led by Olivia Patton who had two. Danielle Henning, Annie Tokarek, Cassie Thomerson, Kaylee Barrett and Maeve McDonough had one hit apiece.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will conclude play at the Colonel Classic on Sunday with a pair of games, beginning with a matchup against Ohio at 10:30 a.m. ET followed by a 1:00 p.m. ET rematch against EKU.

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