Box 1:  PDF | HTM ... Box 2:  PDF | HTM ... Series Stats:  PDF

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- After dropping a ten-inning heartbreaker, the Eastern Illinois softball squad rebounded with a five-inning eight-run rout, to give the Panthers a two-game split at Austin Peay on Saturday.

EIU lost the first game via the international tiebreaker, 7-6, but stomped the Govs in the second game, 11-3, in five innings which snapped a-long 12-game losing streak.

The nightcap victory also kept the Panthers in the hunt for a sixth place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference and berth to the league tournament with a 25-26 overall and 9-13 OVC mark.

Since the Tennessee State squad, which was also in sixth place along side the Panthers prior to today's games, lost two home games to Southeast Missouri on Saturday, the Panthers need to either win the rubber game versus Peay or have TSU drop their single game to SEMO on Sunday afternoon.  

However, If the opposite happens and both EIU and TSU finish with the same 9-14 OVC record, TSU would earn the sixth seed due to having taken two of three games over the Panthers earlier this season, thus winning the tiebreaker.

In the first game, the host Lady Govs took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Panthers busted out the bats, scoring four runs in the fourth.

Senior Sarah Coppert got things going by doubling to left center, freshman Hailee Hanna brought Coppert home off her own two-bagger to center field.  Hanna then touched home plate off a clutch single from freshman power hitter Amanda Bilina.  Then with two out, freshman outfielder Hayley Pieper hit the third Panther double of the inning, moving Bilina to third.  Bilina would then score the third EIU run off a balk by starting APSU pitcher Williams.  Junior second baseman Megan Nelson would give the Panthers the 4-3 lead as her single up the middle would bring Pieper in for the score.

The Panthers would extend their lead to 5-3 in the next inning as Hanna's single would bring home freshman pinch runner Monica Strube, who took over for Kiley Holtz who got on base behind a single to the Govs' shortstop.  Unfortunately, APSU would even the game in their half of the inning off a two-run double.

After four consecutive scoreless innings, the international tiebreaker came into play, as Coppert was placed on second for EIU.  Hanna's sacrifice helped Coppert move to third and then Jackson earned an RBI off a fielders choice, scoring Coppert in the process.

However, the Govs would take advantage of their portion of the 10th frame by eventually loading the bases and tying the game up off another crucial double-bagger.  With senior Kathleen Jacoby taking over the pitching duties from starter Amber May, the senior would unfortunately throw a wild pitch, allowing the Lady Govs to score and eek out the nailbiter, 7-6.

May finished with six strikeouts and two walks, while Jacoby walked one batter off a third inning of work.

In the nightcap, the Panthers came out on all cylinders, scoring two runs in the first inning, first off an RBI single by Holtz, scoring junior Angela Danca.  Holtz would eventually score as well, off a bases loaded walk.

After Peay put up a run in the second inning, the Panthers unleashed for seven runs in the third inning, blowing the game wide open.  After Holtz reached off a APSU error, Strube once again replaced her as pinch runner.  Coppert would single and Hanna would walk to load the bags.  Then Jackson's two RBI single to right center would score Coppert and Strube.  After Bilina was intentionally walked, Maria Sorrentino stepped in as pinch runner.

Nelson would bring Hanna home off a single to the pitcher.  Danca would keep things going with a single to second base, plating Jackson.  Junior right fielder Denee' Menzione's two RBI single thru the gut of the infield would score Nelson and Sorrentiono, forcing a pitching change for the Lady Govs.  But the Panthers would earn their seventh run of the inning off a groundout by Holtz, scoring Danca.

EIU would extend their 9-1 lead to 11-1 in their next half of the inning, scoring twice off two costly Peay errors that would eventually help Sorrentino and Jackson touch home plate.

Peay would add scratch out two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but would strand two more runners as the Panthers earned their sixth mercy-rule win of the season.  Most importantly, the Panthers snapped a season-long 12-game losing streak with the much needed win.

Jacoby picked up the second game win, despite adding to her daily wild pitch total with five in the nightcap.  She also struck out two and walked five, eventually improving her record to 7-9 overall.

For the day, Hailee Hanna finished with a 3-for-5 plate appearance, including a double and two RBIs.  Three more Panthers tallied four hits in the doubleheader.  Melinda Jackson went 4-for-7 and led all Panthers with four RBIs, including a double.  Megan Nelson had a 4-for-8 day and three RBIs.  Lastly, Kiley Holtz finished 4-for-9 and added two RBIs.

Other Panthers earning multiple hits on the day was senior Sarah Coppert with three and freshman Hayley Pieper with two.  

Team-wise, EIU out-hit Peay 23-to-14 behind a .343 to .259 batting advantage.  Panthers also won the total bases advantage, 27-to-18, and committed just one error as compared to five for the Govs.

The rubber game in the three-game series is set for tomorrow at noon.  It will the be season-finale for Austin Peay as the Govs (14-38/3-19 OVC) will finish last in the OVC no matter the outcome of the game.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID