Boxscore (PDF)  |  Photo Gallery (Matt Reynolds, JSU)  |  2014 OVC Tournament Central

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Third-seeded Eastern Illinois softball opened up Ohio Valley Conference Tournament action with a 6-4 victory over #6-UT Martin on Wednesday (May 7) morning.

The win ups the Panther mark to 38-16 overall while the Skyhawks drop to 27-26-1 on the year.  Eastern earns four straight wins over UTM during the current spring campaign, following a three-game regular-season sweep of the Skyhawks at home.

Senior second baseman Carly Willert paced EIU with 3-for-4 day at the plate, which included a pair of singles and an eventual game-winning three-run home run.

Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the second as senior Ashleigh Westover delivered an RBI single to left center to plate senior pinch runner Kaylie Pruett from second.  An eventual squeeze play fielder's choice by sophomore Jennette Isaac would turn into an unofficial inside the park home run as she scampered for home off consecutive UTM miscues.

The Skyhawks would counter with two scores of their own in the top of the third as Eastern committed two untimely errors as well.

In the bottom of the fourth, Willert drilled her third bomb of the season, connecting on a two-out blast over the deep centerfield fence, also plating Isaac and sophomore Haylee Beck.

UTM would make things interesting in the top of the seventh off consecutive RBI shots to score a pair, but the game would end via a bases-loaded fly out to centerfield to help the Panthers hang on for the victory.

Senior Stephanie Maday earned the start in the circle, going just under three innings of work, while fellow Second Team All-OVC honoree Hanna Mennenga earned the win coming in relief in the third inning.

Mennenga fanned seven Skyhawks, including three consecutive upon entering the game and a key K in the top of the seventh as UTM had a bases loaded situation.  The win pushes her to 20-5 on the year.

Isaac added a 2-for-4 plate performance and an RBI, while senior Reynae Hutchinson, and junior Bailey O'Dell added a hit.  Fellow senior Ashleigh Westover added her own RBI shot.

Team-wise, UTM finished with one more hit than EIU (9-to-8), while both squads combined for five errors and the Skyhawks stranded 10 base runners for just five for the Panthers.

Panthers advance to tomorrow's winner's bracket and will face #2-SIU Edwardsville, who used a solo home run to best #7-Tennessee Tech, 1-0, in the second game of the day.  First pitch for the EIU/SIUE battle is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at tourney host Jacksonville State's University Field.
 
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID