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3-Game Series Stats:  PDF

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad dropped its home finale to visiting Murray State on Sunday, as former Lake Land College player, Jenna Bradley, would nail a grand slam that would lift the Racers past the Panthers, 7-1.

The loss dropped the Panthers to 22-25 on the season and 12-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Murray State, who are fielding their first intercollegiate softball squad this season, improved to 22-27 and 11-11 in league action.

Prior to the start of the game, which was played on a gorgeous spring day in front of a season-high crowd of 402, three Panther seniors, Angie Danca, Denee' Menzione, and Megan Nelson were honored for their Eastern careers.

The three team leaders would collect at least one hit in their final game at Williams Field, with Nelson going 2-for-3 and both Menzione and Holtz 1-for-3. Junior Kiley Holtz accounted for the other EIU hit in the game, finishing 1-for-3 as well.

Sophomore designated player, Ashley Anderton accounted for the lone Panther run, as she plated Nelson from third base via a bases-loaded fielders choice. That run would pull EIU to within one run of the visitors, who scored two early runs in the opening half of the frame. Junior thrower Amber May got off to a bumpy start, walking four batters, plus allowing a hit and a stolen base as the Racers scored first off a bases loaded walk.. MSU would add another via a sacrifice fly, but May would get out of the inning by earning one of her three strikeouts of the day.

The Racers then blew out the game with five runs in the sixth inning, four off the grand slam to left field and another run off a single and error, as the Panthers committed four total miscues in the game and the Racers took advantage. Sophomore pitch runner and second baseman Jen Saucier picked up EIU's lone stolen base and Eastern finished with five total hits and stranding eight runners, as compared to six for the Racers.

May was tagged with the loss, dropping her to 15-14 on the year, as she had five total walks and allowed six earned runs and fanned eight total hits.

The Panthers will now prepare for the upcoming double-elimination OVC Championship, which will be held from Thursday to Saturday at regular-season champion UT Martin. EIU was already guaranteed a spot in the six-team tourney and will enter as the No. 4 seed. While the win by Murray State, along with a loss by Tennessee Tech, moves the Racers up to fifth place. Jacksonville State earned a first round bye, as will UTM, as they jumped ahead of Morehead State for a second place seeding. Morehead State, the third seed is scheduled to take on TTU into open Tournament play on Thursday morning, with first pitch set for 11 am.

Eastern, meanwhile, will get another shot versus the Racers as the two squads are scheduled to battle it out at 1:30 pm. The Morehead State/Tennessee Tech winner will then battle the home Skyhawks, while the EIU/Murray victor will get to play JSU.

The complete OVC Tournament schedule is as follows:

THURSDAY, MAY 13
Game 1 - #3 Morehead State vs. #6 Tennessee Tech – 11:00 a.m.
Game 2 - #4 Eastern Illinois vs. #5 Murray State – 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #2 Jacksonville State vs. Game 1 winner – 4:00 p.m.
Game 4 - #1 UT Martin vs. Game 2 winner – 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 14
Game 5 – Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser – 11:00 a.m.
Game 6 – Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser – 1:30 p.m.
Game 7 – Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 winner – 4:00 p.m.
Game 8 – Game 6 winner vs. Game 5 winner – 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 15
Game 9 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner – 11:00 a.m.
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 1:30 p.m.
(if necessary Game 11 follows at 4:00 p.m.)

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

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