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Eastern Illinois University Athletics

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13bel_markowski-b.jpg
4
Eastern Illinois EIU 20-26
8
Winner Murray State MUR 37-17
Eastern Illinois EIU
20-26
4
Final
8
Murray State MUR
37-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eastern Illinois EIU 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 7 0
Murray State MUR 2 1 3 0 1 1 X 8 13 0

W: GASKEY, CheyAnne (19-9) L: Wireman, Jessica (11-13)

Game Recap: Softball |

Panthers Fall to #3-Racers in OVC Opener

#6-EIU drops an 8-4 contest in league tourney action, face #7-SEMO tomorrow

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball opened 2015 Ohio Valley Conference Championship play with an 8-4 loss to #3-Murray State on Wednesday (May 6) morning at Cougar Field on the campus of SIUE in Edwardsville.

With the tough loss, the #6-Panthers (20-26) drop to the losers bracket, where they will take on #7-Southeast Missouri, who lost their first round game to #2-Jacksonville State, 21-0 (5-inn.), at 10 a.m. on Thursday (May 7).

Eastern got on board right off the bat in the top of the first as First Team All-OVC junior April Markowski got on base with a hard-hit single to shortstop.  Following a sac bunt to advance her to second, Markowski then scampered home off an RBI single by fellow First Team All-OVC honoree Bailey O'Dell, as she senior drilled a shot up the middle.

Following another single by senior Hannah Cole, who also secured Second Team All-OVC kudos at last night's awards banquet, O'Dell would score as well via the fielder's choice sac bunt squeeze play from junior Kylie Bennett.

Unfortunately the Racers, as the designated home squad on the scoreboard, would even the game at two-all in their half of the opening frame, with a two-run blast by OVC Player of the Year Jessica Twaddle.

In the bottom of the third, Murray State continued the momentum by taking the lead off a solo homer, before EIU got out of the inning with a pop-up double play.

Eventually the Racers would increase their lead to 7-2, off an RBI double and two-run triple in the third, and a pair of off-speed RBI singles to first base in both the fifth and sixth innings.

In the top of the seventh the Panthers cut into the Racer lead as Bennett and sophomore Hannah Rachor delivered respective singles, before freshman pinch-hitter Taylor Miokovic brought them home off a double to left centerfield for the final run tally.

Markowski led all Panthers with a 2-for-4 plate performance, including her tenth double of the season, while O'Dell and Bennett each tallied an RBI shot.

OVC All-Newcomer honoree Jessica Wireman was tagged for the loss, dropping to 11-13 on the season in the circle.

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

 

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