Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

KENNESAW, Ga. – Eastern Illinois softball finished up early-season tournament play on Sunday (March 8), dropping games to Indiana and the host Kennesaw State squad by respective 9-8 and 6-4 scores.

The Panthers move to to 5-11 on the year and 1-3 over the course of the weekend, as EIU will now prepare for next weekend's three-game Ohio Valley Conference opening series at Austin Peay on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15.

Senior shortstop Bailey O'Dell paced all EIU players over the weekend, hitting .467 off seven hits, which included three home runs, six RBIs, and 16 total bases.  She also led her squad defensively with six assists.

Freshman Jessica Wireman finished with a 1-3 record in the circle as she retired 11 batters via strikes and allowed just four walks.

In the first game slug-fest with Indiana (5-17), the game featured several lead changes as each squad fired off 11 hits, including four home runs.

EIU's O'Dell led all players with a pair of solo bombs as she went 4-for-4 at the plate, while junior April Markowski and newcomer Andrea Roberts each tallied a double.  Junior outfielder Jennette Isaac delivered a pair of hits and scampered for a stolen base.

Eastern jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame as Kylie Bennett's two-RBI shot up the middle plated O'Dell and Roberts.  Markowski followed with her RBI double to score Bennett.

The Hoosiers would score twice in the bottom of the second, while EIU added another run off Isaac's RBI single to bring home O'Dell.  But IU would erupt for four runs in their half of the third inning to lead 6-4.

But the Panthers added three runs over the fifth and sixth frames to retake the lead at 7-6, yet the Hoosiers would tie it in the bottom of the sixth.  O'Dell's solo bomb over the right field fence once again gave the Panthers the lead with an 8-7 advantage, but a walk-off two-run homerun by the Hoosiers would give the IU the comeback victory in the final frame.

Wireman and classmate Michelle Rogers combined for five strikeouts in the circle.

In the tourney finale against Kennesaw State (14-6), the Panthers once again jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning as senior Hannah Cole drilled a two-RBI shot to left center and Kylie Bennett eventually brought Cole home with a hit to third base.

Unfortunately the host Owl squad would retake the lead in the same frame off a bases-loaded grand slam, then added two additional runs in both the third and fifth innings.  EIU would add another run in the top of the sixth thanks to a solo bomb over the left center field fence by Bennett.

Wireman was unfortunately tagged for the loss to fall to 2-7 overall this season, while sophomore Hannah Rachor came in relief in the first frame and struck out a pair of Owl batters, while a trio of KSU pitchers saw action in the contest.

Bennett joined Markowski with a stolen base in the tough loss.

The Panthers and Lady Govs of APSU are set for a 1 p.m. doubleheader this coming Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday, which is also scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch start.

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