Three-Game Series Stats (PDF) | Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois rallied to win game one in extra innings but the Panthers last inning rally in game two fell short as EIU spilt a Saturday softball doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky at Williams Field.  EIU won game one 5-4 in ten innings.  EKU won the nightcap 4-3.

The game two loss snapped a nine game OVC win streak by the Panthers as they fell to 24-19 overall, 14-7 in the OVC.  EKU is now 21-23, 11-11 in the OVC.

Reynae Hutchinson had the big hit for EIU in game one winning the contest with a two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth.  EKU had scored to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the frame as Raquel Howes singled up the middle to score Lauren Mitchell.  In the bottom of the frame Melise Brown moved to third on one out before Hutchinson delivered the game winning shot.

Stephanie Maday worked ten innings to pick up the win improving to 14-9.  She struck out 11 batters.  Leanna Pittsenbarger suffered the loss falling to 10-12.

EKU took a 2-0 lead in the game scoring on an RBI single by Nicole Heitz in the fourth and a solo home run by Katie Tackett in the fifth.

EIU tied the game at 2-2 scoring on RBI singles by Morgan Biel and Hailee Hanna in the fifth and sixth. 

EKU scored an unearned run in the eighth before EIU tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an Ally Seplak RBI single.  Seplak was 2-for-4 for EIU in the game while Brown was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.  Heitz and Howes both had three hits for EKU in the opener.

In the second game it was Heitz three run triple in the fourth inning that proved to be the difference.  Heitz cleared the bases against starter Hanna Mennenga with a triple to left field.  Mennaga would exit in the fifth and fell to 10-7 on the season.  Diane Gallagher drove in the other run in the inning for EKU.

EKU starter Hannah Driver was in control until the seventh inning when EIU rallied.  Abby Wood drew a walk before Amanda Bilina had a pinch-hit double.  Bailey O'Dell then doubled to center to drive in the first run.   Brown's single to center field against Driver scored two more runs to make the contest 4-3.

Shaylon Robb entered the game and walked Carly Willert before closing the game with back-to-back strike outs.  Robb picked up her third save of the year while Driver improved to 2-0.

Brown and Hutchinson both went 2-for-4 in the game for EIU.  Hietz was 4-for-4 for EKU.

The deciding game in the series will be at Noon on Sunday at Williams Field.