The Kentucky State University softball team split its third straight doubleheader as they defeated Asbury in the opener and fell to the Eagles in the nightcap Tuesday in non-conference action at Lakeview Park.

GAME ONE: KENTUCKY STATE 4, ASBURY 3
Senior Paola Flores (San Lorenzo, PR) won her fifth consecutive start Tuesday, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits over seven innings. She struck out six and walked two in her complete game.

Kentucky State took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Olivia Steward (Salem, IN) snapped a 2-2 tie by scoring on a wild pitch, and then a ground out by freshman Janae Graham (Morehead, KY) gave KSU a much needed insurance run.

Asbury took the lead with a run in the top of the first inning and again in the top of the second, but each time sophomore Moana Pinner (Hilo, HI) knotted the score with an RBI. She had an RBI groundout in the first and an RBI single in the third inning.

Senior Jackie Zubiate (Riverside, CA) and junior Sasha Allen (Covina, CA) were both 2-for-3 with a run scored in the opener.

GAME TWO: ASBURY 7, KENTUCKY STATE 5
A seventh-inning comeback fell short Tuesday as Kentucky State nearly rallied from a five-run deficit.

Graham opened the seventh with a walk, moved to third on a single by senior Natalia Bocanegra (Covina, CA), and both came around to score on an one-out double by senior Jittaun Thompson (Pomona, CA). Thompson scored on an RBI groundout by Pinner.

Kentucky State put the tying runs on base on back-to-back two-out singles by freshman Olivia Saylor (Lancaster, KY) and Allen. However, a strikeout ended the game.

Asbury claimed the early lead with a run in the third inning, but a two-run single by Bocanegra gave KSU the lead. However, it would be short-lived as the Eagles took advantage of a pair of Thorobred error to put five runs on the board. The Eagles pushed across another run in the sixth inning.

Bocanegra and Thompson both went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Saylor and Allen also went 2-for-4.

Senior Casey Grant, 2-5, (Fort Mitchell, KY) surrendered six runs (three earned) on six hits over four innings of work.

Kentucky State (17-17) faces Miles College Saturday and Sunday in a pivotal SIAC three-game series.