FRANKFORT, Ky. --- Asbury softball traveled on Wednesday afternoon to compete in a doubleheader with Kentucky State University. Both games were a tight matchup, with AU taking the win over the Thorobreds in game one 2-1. KSU found the edge in game two, taking the win over the Eagles 9-8. This marks the third split doubleheader in a row between the two teams, going back to 2019.

The Eagles showed off their defensive skills in game one, being led by captain, Taylor Enlow as she dominated the field and the plate. Enlow took the mound for the Eagles and grabbed a career-high of 10 strikeouts from seven innings pitched. Enlow led AU at the plate going 2-3 at bat and tallying two RBIs.

Full effort was given from AU across the board in game two as the Eagles collected 12 hits, seven RBIs, eight runs, and only struck out once. Senior captain Abigail Fletcher recorded multiple season highs including her first career home run, a double, ten putouts, and going 2-4 at the plate. Alongside Fletcher, AU was led defensively by starting pitcher Josie Deatherage, who collected eight strikeouts to shutout KSU through the first four innings.

Game One | AU 2, KSU 1
Game one quickly became a battle for hits as only three hits were recorded through the first five innings, with AU grabbing one.
Although Asbury could not find early hits, Taylor Enlow ensured that Kentucky State would remain at bay. Enlow grabbed seven strikeouts through the five scoreless innings, throwing three back-to-back to close out the fifth inning.
 
Abigail Fletcher began the drive for AU in the top of the sixth with a single to right field. Kaitlyn Wilson took a hit by pitch to get on first, putting runners on first and second for AU.
Taylor Enlow stepped up to the plate and shot one down the left field line to rack her 16^th double of the year, bringing home both runners and giving AU their lead, 2-0.
Enlow still holds the No. 1 spot in the NCCAA for doubles, now at 16.
 
Enlow forced the Thorobreds to swing through nine of her strikeouts and look for one, totaling 10 for the game.
 
Asbury continued to hold the Thorobreds, only allowing them to score one unearned run in the bottom of the seventh.
 
With the win from game one, Asbury moves to a 9-22 record.

Game Two | AU 8, KSU 9
Asbury wasted no time in game two, immediately loading the bases thanks to Kaitlyn Wilson taking a hit by pitch, Olivia Palasek's bunt single, and Taylor Enlow's walk.
The next play established a lead for AU, as Taylor Sanders provided a hit to bring Wilson home for the Eagles' first run. It was then Palasek to score a second run on the same play due to an error made by KSU.

With KSU unable to answer AU, the Eagles 2-0 lead remained going into the fourth inning where the team managed to increase their lead to 3-0 from a single homerun to left field provided by senior captain Abigail Fletcher, her first career homerun.
Asbury continued to shut down KSU in the bottom of the fourth, with AU starting pitcher Josie Deatherage throwing eight strikeouts within the four innings.

The Eagles continued their scoring streak in the top of the fifth, loading the bases at the top of the inning yet again by the same trio of Wilson, Palasek, and Enlow each providing a single.
Enlow's single drove home Wilson for the Eagles' fourth run, followed by Enlow's advancement to third off of a wild pitch.
It was then Taylor Sanders to drive Enlow home to secure a lead of 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth.
KSU hit a turning point in the bottom of the fifth, as they began to gain momentum and bring in two runs of their own to lessen the gap 5-2.

AU continued to push their lead in the top of the sixth, sparked by Abigail Fletcher's double to right field on a two out rally.
Fletcher then came home after taking advantage of a Thorobred error during Isabel Rochemont's at bat.
Next was Olivia Palasek to bring home another run, as Rochemont came in off of Palasek's single down the left field line.
The Eagles eighth run was driven home by Taylor Enlow's single to centerfield, setting the score 8-2.
The bottom of the sixth was the most impactful inning of the game, as KSU managed to take the lead over AU after scoring a painful seven runs and taking the lead 9-8.

Despite two hits in the top of the seventh, AU  was unable to reclaim their lead, falling to KSU 9-8 to split the doubleheader and moving into a record of 9-23.


*G1: AU recorded 5 H, 2 RBI, 2 R, 10 K

*G2: AU recorded 12 H, 7 RBI, 8 R, 1 K


*G1: Taylor Enlow | 7.0 IP, 10 K, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 RBI
*G1: Abigail Fletcher | 1 H, 1 R
*G1: Kaitlyn Wilson | 1 R

*G2: Josie Deatherage | 4.1 IP, 8 K, 0 ER, 2 R
*G2: Olivia Palasek | 3-4 AB, 1 RBI, 1 R
*G2: Taylor Enlow | 2-3 AB, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
*G2: Taylor Sanders | 3 RBI
*G2: Kyla Bell | 2-4 AB
*G2: Abigail Fletcher | 2-4 AB, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR

The Eagles next game is another one on the road, as AU travels to Berea College on April 15 to compete in a doubleheader at 12pm/2pm.