Box Score
Game #30 Box:  PDF
Three-Game Weekend Series Stats (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After taking two games off Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State on Saturday, Eastern Illinois softball failed to earn the series sweep as the Racers rebounded for a 3-0 win on Sunday (April 1), taking advantage full of a season-high five Panther errors.

The loss moves Eastern to an even 15-15 overall and 5-6 in league action, while the Racers improve to 12-11 and 7-5 and avoid their second consecutive regular-season OVC series sweep to EIU.

The visitors scored their first run in the fourth frame, as a runner reached base off an EIU fielding error, eventually scoring two plays later thanks to a Panther muffed throw to third base.

Then in the fifth, with one runner on, the next Racer batter reached off a fielder's choice which also unfortunately led to yet another Panther miscue that allowed the MSU lead runner to reach home safely.  The Racers added a final unearned run off a fielder's choice RBI late in the same inning.

Sophomore Reynae Hutchinson and Carly Willert accounted for the lone Panther hits in the loss, with Willert earning her seventh double of the season before unfortunately being thrown out in her attempt to reach third base.

Sophomore Stephanie Maday was tagged for the complete game loss and move to 9-8 overall on the season in the circle, yet she also led the field with six strikeouts.  She allowed two walks and fanned four Racer hits while all of the MSU runs were thankfully unearned.

The Racers out-hit Eastern (four-to-two), yet stranded five baserunners as compared to just one for the Panthers.  EIU did turn a nice defensive double-play at one point in the game, as sophomore Bailey O'Dell gloved a hard-hit lineout shot before assisting Hutchinson at first.

Despite dropping the series finale to MSU, the Panthers still enjoy a sizeable all-time series lead of 7-3, yet the Racers did snap a recent six-game EIU winning streak dating back to 2010.

Eastern will hit the road this coming week, traveling to league rival Southeast Missouri for a pair of games on Wednesday (April 4), before heading to Nashville, Tenn. to face Tennessee State in a three-game OVC series on Friday-Saturday (April 6-7). 

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