RICHMOND, Ky. – Indiana State softball split two games on Sunday to close out the weekend at the Colonel Classic, falling to Ohio University 6-1 while defeating host Eastern Kentucky 6-1 to improve to 7-7 on the season.
 
Game One
Sycamore starting pitcher Lauren Sackett was cruising through two innings, striking out three to keep the score 0-0. The Bobcats would break the game open in the third, scoring five runs including a three-run home run to put OU up 5-0 in the top of the frame.
 
Indiana State struggled offensively, getting blanked through five innings. ISU trailed the Bobcats 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth after OU added a run via a Sycamore throwing error.
 
The Sycamores sprinkled four hits throughout the game, including a RBI single from Kaylee Barrett in the sixth which scored pinch-runner Morgan Goodrich to end the OU shutout bid. Barrett's hit made it a 6-1 game heading into the final frame.
 
Both teams would go 1-2-3 in the seventh to give OU the 6-1 win over Indiana State .
 
Lauren Sackett took the loss for ISU, giving up five runs over three innings while striking out three. Lyndsi Adamson threw four innings of relief, giving up just one unearned run on two hits.
 
Barrett had two of Indiana State's four hits while Danielle Henning and Olivia Patton had one apiece.
 
Game Two
The rematch between Indiana State and Eastern Kentucky was scoreless through two innings before the Sycamores were finally able to get their offense going. Annie Tokarek drove in Abi Chipps on a fielder's choice to give ISU its first lead in the top of the third. Isabella Henning followed her with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field to grow the Sycamore lead to 4-0. Lexi Benko kept the Colonels off the scoreboard in the third, working around a one-out double to keep it 4-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Benko picked up her 200^th career strikeout, continuing her shutout effort through four innings.
 
Olivia Patton collected her third hit of the game with a leadoff single in the fifth. Danielle Henning would follow her with a fielder's choice that allowed her to move to second base with just one away. Annie Tokarek drove Henning in with a single to left field to extend Indiana State's lead to 5-0. Kaylee Barrett would add another run with an infield single that scored Lauren Sackett to make It 6-0 after four and a half innings.
 
Benko continued to dominate the Colonel bats, recording a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth to keep her shutout intact.
 
After the Sycamores went down in order to begin the sixth, the Colonels got on the board in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot to end Benko's shutout bid.
 
Indiana State did not score in the top of the seventh, sending Benko back to the circle with a five-run lead to close out EKU. She finished off her complete game and sent ISU home with a 6-1 victory, finishing with three strikeouts while allowing just one run on three hits.
 
ISU finished with seven hits, getting three from Olivia Patton who now leads the team with 17 on the season. Annie Tokarek finished with a pair of RBI while Isabella Henning had a team-high three. Kaylee Barrett also drove in a run to round out the scoring.
 
The Sycamores finish the Colonel Classic at 2-2, sweeping both games against the host Colonels.
 
Up Next
Indiana State will head to Memphis, Tennessee for the University of Memphis Tournament from March 10-12 where they will face North Alabama, Pittsburgh and Memphis.

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