2014 OVC Tournament Central

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Heavy Saturday rain in the Jacksonville, Alabama area has altered the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to a single-elimination format between the two squads still in the winner's bracket (#2-SIU Edwardsville and #4-Murray State).  Thus the Panthers' softball season unfortunately comes to an end at 38-17 overall and 1-1 in tourney action.

Junior infielder Bailey O'Dell did end up representing the Panthers as a member of the All-Tournament Team (see below).

EIU had their loser's bracket game versus #5-Eastern Kentucky delayed in the bottom of the second inning this morning.  Due to time issues with getting the rest of the loser's bracket games played, and an eventual tourney champion and automatic NCAA qualifier crowned, the tourney format has been moved to a single championship game.  So the Cougars and Racers will meet this evening for the right to represent the OVC in upcoming NCAA Regional play.

That championship game will attempt be played at 8 p.m. this evening, or on Sunday morning.

Earlier in the day, #7-Tennessee Tech eliminated regular-season champion and tourney host Jacksonville State with a late-game 6-3 win, as that loser's bracket game was finally completed following yesterday's extensive rain delay as all action was washed out.

Eastern ends the season with a third place overall league finish, while taking second in the OVC West Division standings and advancing to the league tourney for the seventh consecutive season.

The Panthers lose eight seniors -- Morgan Biel, Reynae Hutchinson, Stephanie Maday, Hanna Mennenga, Brooke Owens, Kaylie Pruett, Ashleigh Westover, and Carly Willert -- as EIU is set to return nine returning letterwinners for the next season.

2014 OVC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ella Denes, Jacksonville State
Angi Sakamoto, Tennessee Tech
Bailey O'Dell, Eastern Illinois
Christina Ciolek, Eastern Kentucky
Jessica Twaddle, Murray State
Mo Ramsey, Murray State
Casey Castile, Murray State
Alex McDavid, SIUE
Kayla Riggs, SIUE
Chelsea Yankolovich, SIUE
Haley Chambers,  SIUE (MVP)

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