RICHMOND, Ky. - The Toledo softball team jumped out to an early lead, but could not hang on in a 6-3 loss to Eastern Kentucky in the opening round of the National Invitational Softball Championship on Thursday. The loss drops the Rockets to 34-22 on the season and they will play in an elimination game tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. against Austin Peay.

Eastern Kentucky 6, Toledo 3
The Rockets scored the first run of the game just two batters into the contest, but could not hold on to the early advantage. Toledo scored two in the first before Eastern Kentucky took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. EKU extended its lead with three more tallies in the second inning to go up by four runs. Toledo plated the final run of the game in the top of the third to reach the final score of 6-3.

Junior Katie Cozy and freshman Bailey Curry led the Rockets with two hits apiece. Senior Ashley Rausch went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk and a run scored, while junior Megan Choate doubled and walked twice for UT.

How it Happened

• Toledo started the game on a mission as the first three batters recorded base hits. Rausch doubled to lead off the game and scored on an RBI single by freshman Kylie Norwood. Curry followed with a single to move Norwood to third. Eastern Kentucky traded a run for two outs on a double play ball that brought in Norwood to make the score 2-0.
• EKU's offense started in a similar manner in the bottom of the inning. A single, a walk and a three-run home run gave the Colonels a 3-2 edge.
• Eastern Kentucky put together back-to-back, two-out doubles and an RBI single to put a three spot on the board in the second inning to make the score 6-2.
• The Rockets started to chip into the deficit with a run in the top of the third. Rausch was hit by a pitch to start the rally and advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs, freshman Bekah Yenrick lined a single up the middle to cut the margin to three, 6-3.
• EKU looked to blow the game open in the third, but junior Kailey Minarchick struck out OVC Player of the Year Paige Murphy with the bases loaded to end the inning.
• Choate doubled to begin the fourth, Rausch walked and Norwood was hit by a pitch, but all three were left stranded as the fourth inning came to a close.
• Minarchick retired the final nine Colonels of the game in the circle for UT.

With poor weather imminent, tomorrow's NISC games have been moved up two hours. The Rockets will take on the Governors of Austin Peay at 10:00 a.m. at Hood Field.