UHSP blows lead in game one, can't finish comeback in game two

COLUMBIA, MO – It was a tale of two stories, but the outcome was the same in both. Sunday afternoon, Stephens swept a doubleheader from UHSP winning a pair of one-run games. The Eutectics blew a 7-1 lead in game one only to see the Stars win 8-7 in 10 innings. While in game two, it was Stephens that built a big lead while UHSP could not complete the comeback. The Stars won the finale 6-5 sending the Eutectics to their eighth straight defeat.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

STEPHENS 8, UHSP 7 (10 INNINGS)

• Hallie Roper opened the scoring with a first-inning solo homerun off of Stephens starter, Elise Kendrick.
• Roper was at it again in the second when she drove home Kailey Samora with an RBI single. Alicia Kimble followed with a three-run homerun, the first collegiate homerun of her career. UHSP scored four runs on five hits in the second.
• Ivy Smart led off the Stars third with a homerun off of UHSP starter Emma Henley to cut the deficit to 7-3.
• With two on in the fourth, Elise Kendrick singled to make it 7-4 and chased Henley from the circle. She went 3.1IP, 6R, 8H, 2BB, 3K. Smart followed by driving in a run with another scoring on an error. It was 7-6 after four.
• Celeste Athon came up large out of the 9-spot for Stephens going 2-for-3 and drove in the tying run in the sixth. That run came off Trysten Murphy who replaced Henley in the circle.
• Stephens would win it in the tenth. Landry Bales delivered a one-out sacrifice fly to win it 8-7.
• UHSP never had a baserunner after a leadoff single in the seventh. They went down in order in the eighth, ninth and tenth.
• Kendrick (3-5) went all ten innings for Stephens. She yielded seven runs on 11 hits while fanning eight. She did not allow a walk.
• Murphy (0-1) took the loss for the Eutectics going the final 6.2IP. She gave up two runs on four hits and struck out three.
• UHSP's 2-5 hitters combined to go 9-for-19 in the game. Roper was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and drove in three. Kimble and Lexi Knoll were 2-for-5. Kimble scored twice and had three runs batted in.
• Samora was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Payton Reinbott had a double and Hannah Duggan had a single for the only other Eutectic hits.
• Five different Stars hitters collected two hits in the game. They registered four doubles and a homerun.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

STEPHENS 6, UHSP 5

• Makenzie Ness put UHSP on the board first in game two. Kimble was hit by a pitch to lead off the second, she stole second and came home on a Ness single to left.
• Stephens scored six runs in the fourth when they sent nine to the plate. Emma Angel capped the frame with a two-run dinger.
• Ness shaved a run off the deficit when she led off the sixth with a homerun. It was 6-2 after six.
• Kimble and Ness were in the middle of a three-run seventh for the Eutectics. Kimble drove in a pair with a triple and Ness plated another with a sac fly.
• Talianna Joyner (2-6) suffered the loss going three innings as she gave up four runs, five hits and fanned three.
• Katie Dennis (4-3) picked up the complete game win allowing five runs, six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
• Eva Kameoka went the final three innings. She walked and struck out two, allowing two runs on three hits.
• Kimble had a day going 4-for-8 with four runs and five RBI's in the two games combined. She had a single, double, triple and homerun on the day. She leads the Eutectics on the year with a .500 average.

UP NEXT:

The Eutectics (6-12, 2-4 AMC) are on the road for a pair of conference doubleheaders next weekend playing at Central Baptist (15-15, 4-0 AMC) this Friday and then traveling to Mission on Saturday. Before that, UHSP hosts Clarke (5-9, 0-4 HEART) on Wednesday for a twin bill that starts at 2:00p. The Pride got swept in a doubleheader on Sunday against Benedictine and have now lost six straight.