Taylor Lifts Eagles to Victory

WILMORE, Ky. – The Eagles needed late-inning dramatics after blowing an early lead against West Virginia Tech to defeat the Golden Bears 4-3 on Friday evening.  Game two was called in the bottom of the first inning due to rain.

Amber Taylor provided the heroics for the Eagles as she blaster her second home run of the season, a solo shot to center off of Stephanie Sang with one out in the seventh.  The Eagles (8-3) took an early lead, scoring twice in the first.

Kendall Ratchford led off the game reaching on a fielding error by Sang, then would advance to second on a wild pitch.  Mary Ann Warford singled to the infield and would end up on third after a throwing error by the third baseman which allowed Ratchford to score.  Warford would scamper home on another wild pitch.

Asbury added another run in the third as Miranda Drury hit her third homer of the season.  That gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead which looked to be more than enough for Jessica Johnson.  The freshman went 5.1 innings with a no-hitter.  In the sixth Whitney Patrick reached on a fielding error and the very next batter Stephanie Nickell hit a home run to left field, breaking up the no-no.  The Golden Bears would add two more hits and another run to tie the score at 3, setting up Taylor for the game winner.

Johnson went the distance to pick up her second victory of the season (2-1).  She allowed only four hits and only one of the three runs she gave up was earned.  She struck out six and walked two. 

Asbury will finally get back out on the road after playing four consecutive days and seven straight games at home.  The Eagles travel to Midway College on Monday for a KIAC doubleheader at 5:00 pm.