Boxscore (PDF) | Photo Gallery (Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Top-seeded Eastern Illinois softball have been eliminated from Ohio Valley Conference Championship contention after dropping a 5-1 loser's bracket contest to #3-Eastern Kentucky early Saturday (May 11) afternoon.

The Panthers now sport a 36-14 season record, while the Colonels of EKU improve to 36-19 and are set to face the winner of #2-SIUE/#5-UTM in the Saturday loser's bracket nightcap with hopes to continue tourney play tomorrow.

As the regular-season OVC champion, EIU will now have to hope for a possible at-large berth into the upcoming NCAA Regional, with the championship field to be announced live on ESPNU at 9 p.m. (central) on Sunday (May 12) evening.

The Panthers enjoyed the early 1-0 lead as sophomore Bailey O'Dell delivered an RBI shot up the gut of the EKU defense to plate senior outfielder Melise Brown from third.

That score would hold until the top of the fifth frame as the Colonels erupted for four runs off five hits, eventually adding a security run in the final inning for the margin of victory.

The win by EKU was the rubber game of the season as the Panthers and Colonels split the regular-season league series down in Richmond, Ky. EKU ended up winning the OVC east division, while the Panthers won both west division as well as being crowned the regular-season title holder.

EKU's Raquel Howes paced the Colonels with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate with an RBI and a double, while Christina Ciolek drilled her own two-RBI shot as well.

Colonel pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger had a fine performance in the circle as she limited the normally hot-hitting Panthers to just three hits, while registering nine Ks off six-innings of work and improving to 22-9 on the year.

EIU junior Stephanie Maday, who earned Second Team All-OVC honors, was tabbed for the loss as she fell to 13-6 overall this season. Classmate and reigning OVC 'Pitcher of the Year' Hanna Mennenga saw limited action in the loss as she registered a pair of walks.

EIU senior catcher Abby Wood delivered her own double in her final game at Williams Field, while newcomer Haylee Beck accounted for the other Panther hit.

Defensively, junior Ashleigh Westover had a nice game at the hot corner with five putouts and five assists, including a key lineout double play to help end an EKU scoring threat.

For the game, the Panthers stranded five runners as compared to nine for the Colonels.

For the second time in three years, the Panthers end home conference championship play with a 1-2 tourney mark, as EIU last hosted the event back in 2011, finishing in third place at the then six-team tourney.

Junior third baseman Ashleigh Westover earned her second career All-Tournament Team selection as she represented the Panthers on the squad this season as she also did back in 2011 the last time EIU hosted the year-end championship.

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