Eastern Illinois University Athletics

EIU opened the day blanking IUPUI 6-0 in their season opening game. The Panthers relied on big second and fifth innings to secure their first win of the season. Iowa State would earn an 8-7 victory in the nightcap game against EIU with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Sophomore Jessica Wireman had the complete game shutout for EIU against IUPUI throwing 10 strikeouts and only giving up three hits in her seven innings on the mound. Wireman finished the day with 13.2 innings pitched, 11 hits, 2 earned runs, and 13 strikeouts.

Kylie Bennett opened the hitting for the Panthers against IUPUI leading off the second inning with a standup triple to right center field. Katie Watson followed that up with a single eventually stealing second base. Kayla Bear earned her first hit in a Panther uniform to load the bases with no outs in the second.

IUPUI's Brooke Boetjer was called on an illegal pitch to advance all runners and bring Taylor Monahan, pinch running for Bennett, home to put EIU up 1-0. Senior Haylee Beck would reach first base on a fielder's choice after laying down a sacrifice bunt, but Watson was thrown out at home for the inning's first out. 

After Andrea Roberts lined out, Mady Poulter tripled in her first at bat for EIU to bring both runners home as the Panthers extended their lead to 3-0. 

The Panthers once again got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning as April Markowski and Jennette Isaac reached base on errors. With Markowski advancing to third on the error Isaac successfully stole second base, but Markowski was caught and thrown out at third. 

Jennifer Ames was walked to put runners on first and second base. Bennett then hit her second triple of the game to bring both runners home and extend the Panthers' lead to 5-0. Watson came up to the plate and singled down the right field line to bring Bennett home and put the Panthers up 6-0 with one out in the fifth inning.

Watson was eventually thrown out at second as Bear reached first base on the fielder's choice. Bear stole second base, but Beck grounded out to first to end the inning. 

Watson finished the game against IUPUI batting 3-for-3 with one RBI. Bennett and Poulter both recorded two RBIs as Bennett finished 2-for-4 with two triples.

The Panther scoring continued during the nightcap as EIU started the game against Iowa State scoring three runs in the first inning. Ames opened the scoring for EIU hitting a ground-rule double to bring Markowski home. Ames would eventually earn EIU's second run by successfully stealing home. The Panthers closed out the inning as Bear hit a double deep to bring Watson around from second base with EIU leading 3-0 after the first inning.

Michelle Rogers earned the nod for the Panthers starting the on the mound for EIU.

Iowa State answered back in the bottom of the second as a single from the Cyclones' Sammie Hildreth brought around two runners to make it 3-2. ISU loaded the bases later in the second, tying the game after a walk from Rogers brought a runner home.

Iowa State claimed the lead in the bottom of the third after back-to-back sacrifice hits scored runners to put the Cyclones up 5-3. 

EIU managed to pull it within one in the fourth after Poulter reached first on the fielder's choice bringing Bear around to score to make it 5-4. Wireman came in to replace Rogers in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Watson managed to tie the game in the fifth inning doubling to left to score Monahan and pull the Panthers even with ISU 5-5. 

It was a stalemate between both teams as EIU and ISU headed into extra innings. Markowski gave EIU a glimmer of hope hitting a two run home run in the top of the ninth to put the Panthers ahead 7-5. 

The Cyclones' continued to fight as they tied the game back up 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth after a fielder's choice followed by a single brought two runners across home plate.

ISU finished the game in the bottom of the 10th pulling out an 8-7 victory with a walk off single from Cathlin Bingham to bring Hildreth home.  

Wireman finished the day with a 1-1 record. Watson led the Panthers with four hits and two stolen bases on the day, while Bennett recorded two triples. 

EIU continues their tournament play with a game against North Dakota tomorrow at 9 am followed by a rematch with IUPUI at 11:15 am.