Kimble Breaks Eutectic Record as Eagles Sweep Series

WALNUT RIDGE, ARK. -  The Eutectic softball team finished up a two-day tour of Arkansas with their final American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season doubleheader on Saturday at Williams Baptist University (30-10, 9-1 AMC). Alicia Kimble broke the program record for single-season doubles (13) in Game 2, but the WBU Eagles swept the series against the Eutectics with scores of 11-3 and 11-4, despite error-free defense and two quality offensive innings.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

WBU 11, UHSP 3

• The Eutectics nearly matched the Eagles in hits (10 and 11) in Game 1, but the WBU offense racked up five doubles and a home run to score 11 runs in just five innings to win the game.
• The Eutectic bats came alive in the third inning as hits from Alicia Kimble, Hunter Noto, Hallie Roper (double), Averi Glosemeyer, and Trysten Murphy scored all three of UHSP's runs in the game.
• Roper and Sydney Hinojosa each contributed a double in the game. Hunter Noto went 3-for-3 and scored a run for UHSP, while Roper and Murphy each went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Starting pitcher Anna Lucas was charge with the loss after 2.2 innings, with three strikeouts, five hits, five earned runs, a home run, and a walk. Emma Henley (1.1 innings) and Karlea Frey (0.1) finished out the game on the mound for UHSP.
• Emberlin Caldwell pitched five innings for the WBU win, striking out one and giving up 10 hits and three earned runs.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

WBU 11, UHSP 4

• The Eagles got a jump on scoring in Game 2, notching three runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the third to go up 5-0.
• The Eutectic offense rallied in the top of the fourth when Trysten Murphy opened up the inning with a double to left field. Mackenzie Nelson moved Murphy with a single to right field. Next, Eva Kameoka hit an RBI single to first base, scoring Murphy. Then, it was Alicia Kimble who stepped up to the plate and cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left field and put the Euts within striking distance of the Eagles at 5-4.
• The Eagles, however, followed up with four runs off five hits in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open at 9-4. The pushed two more across the plate in the next inning to go up 11-4,as the Eutectic batters could only manage one hit in the next three at-bats.
• Alicia Kimble's home run was one of four hits she had in the game in four at-bats, including the double that put her in the Eutectic record books. She now has 13 doubles for the season, breaking the school record for single-season doubles of 12 held by Clarice Tennessen (2022) and Hall of Famer Lauren Wright (2019). She also tied the school record for single-season hits with 52.
• UHSP starting pitcher Talianna Joyner pitched the first 3.2 inning for the loss. She struck out three, walked one, and gave up 12 hits for nine earned runs. Trysten Murphy closed out the final 2.1 inning on the mound, giving up three hits and two earned runs.
• WBU's Morgan Garner claimed the victory after 6.2 innings hurling four strikeouts and giving up no walks, eight hits, and four earned runs.

UP NEXT:

The WBU series closed out the American Midwest Conference regular season for the Eutectics, who finished with seven wins and 11 losses in the Conference. The record currently ranks them seventh of 10 teams in the AMC, with several teams still with Conference games to play. The top eight teams qualify for the AMC tournament held in Branson, Mo., April 28 – May 2.

The Eutectics will play one more non-Conference doubleheader to close out the regular season, looking to improve their 15-17 record when they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take on Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday, April 18.