Game #1 Box:  PDF | HTM
Game #2 Box:  PDF | HTM

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad dropped two straight Thursday afternoon contests at Chattanooga, as the Panthers fell via an eight-inning first game heartbreaker, 3-2, and then dropped the nightcap, 12-6, in five innings.  The eighth straight defeat drops EIU to 6-11 on the season.

Down a run to begin the the seventh inning, newcomer Melise Brown nailed a two-RBI single up the gut to plate two EIU runners, thus giving the Panthers the late-game lead. Even with only one out and runners at second and third, the Panthers were unable to add to their run total.

Just two outs away from picking up the tough win, the Panthers instead saw the home squad connect for a one-run double that sailed just out of the reach of EIU centerfielder Angie Danca, pulling the Mocs even at two runs apiece.

The Panthers had a good chance in the top of the eighth, as freshman Ally Seplak, who was placed on second base for the international tiebreaking scenario, moved to third off a UTC passed ball. Senior Denee' Menzione would then walk. With one out, Seplak would unfortunately get thrown out at home on a failed suicide squeeze. The Mocs would get out of the inning and then scratch past EIU in their half of the eighth frame, as a UTC single to right center scored the winning run.

Senior shortstop Megan Nelson and outfielder Brown accounted for the two EIU hits, which put a damper on UTC's potential no-hitter thru the sixth inning. EIU's own thrower, junior Amber May, finished with a complete game performance of six strikeouts and just one walk, facing 28 total batters (stranding five), fanning five hits and allowing two earned runs to fall to 3-7 on the season.

“Plain and simple, when Amber (May) throws like that, you have to get the job done and win the game,” said EIU head coach Kim Schuette. “They tried to give it to us and we had many chances, but we didn't get it done. We were 0-for-3 on suicides, plus had three strikeouts looking with runners on second and third and the game on the line."

In the nightcap, the home squad scored first off a one-run bunt in the first, but the Panthers would counter with an explosion of four-runs at the top of the second frame.

True freshman Ally Wood would collect her first double of her career, scoring classmate Brown from third as her hit went down the left field line. Wood would then eventually touch home plate thanks to a passed ball by the UTC catcher.

Up 2-1 with just one out, the Panther offense continued as Menzione plated Seplak via an RBI single up the middle, followed by junior Kiley Holtz's slice to center field, bringing home Menzione. Unfortunately the Panthers would be unable to hold onto the advantage, stranding just one more runner the rest of the way as the host squad scored 11 runs in their next three frames for the win.

“Chattanooga is a good team, with much success and a very good pitcher,” said Schuette. “But we need to get it done. It's just too bad, because we are playing much better ball now.”

Seven different players accounted for the Panther hit numbers in the tough loss, with Menzio”ne making the most of her only at-bat with her one-run hit in the fourth. Holtz and Wood would earn the other two RBI singles while sophomore Jen Saucier and freshman Seplak each adding a hit as well. Nelson and Brown, meanwhile, earned at least one safe hit in both matchups today.

Natalie Wunderlich was tagged with the loss in the circle, falling to 2-3 after tallying three Ks and just one walk. The Mocs earned five runs and seven hits against the newcomer and added two runs each versus relievers Hailie Ray and May in just one combined inning of work.

“Our young pitchers couldn't hold the lead in game two and then UTC buried us,” Schuette said. “It's kind of like getting your nose rubbed in it to lose on suicides. Once we were done with the suicides we just couldn't get it done, which is too bad because we could have walked away with a 1-1 record.”

For the two-game series, the Panthers held their own in stolen bases, going 3-for-3 in thefts, as Nelson, Brown and Seplak each earned a steal, moving Brown's season total to six for the year, which leads all players. Nelson, Brown and Wood each had two total bases on Saturday. EIU stranded 10 runners on base as compared to nine for UTC, while the home squad committed zero errors with Eastern unfortunately tabbed with four miscues on the day. The Mocs also earned two homers, holding EIU to just one extra-base hit.

“We learned a lot on this trip so far and now are playing some ball again,” said Schuette. “These past two weeks have been the toughest stretch of the season, but now its on to Jacksonville State.”

The task for the Panthers does indeed only get tougher as EIU will now open Ohio Valley Conference action at league favorite JSU this coming weekend. The three-game series gets underway with a Saturday doubleheader and Sunday single game, set to start at 1 pm on both days in Jacksonville, Alabama.

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