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Softball Team Celebration 2016
0
UT Martin UTM 5-11, 0-1 OVC
8
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 6-10, 1-0 OVC
UT Martin UTM
5-11, 0-1 OVC
0
Final
8
Eastern Illinois EIU
6-10, 1-0 OVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
UT Martin UTM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 0 1 0 2 5 8 8 0

W: Wireman, Jessica (5-11) L: Brooke KENNEDY (8-4)

4
UT Martin UTM 15-12, 0-2 ovc
5
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 7-15, 2-0 ovc
UT Martin UTM
15-12, 0-2 ovc
4
Final
5
Eastern Illinois EIU
7-15, 2-0 ovc
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UT Martin UTM 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 4 7 0
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 11 0

W: Wireman, Jessica (6-11) L: Alyss VANLANDINGHAM (3-4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Sweeps Skyhawks In Doubleheader

EIU softball recorded two wins over UT Martin Saturday afternoon to give the Panthers a perfect 2-0 start in conference play.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery - (By Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball started off conference play on a high note sweeping the UT Martin Skyhawks in their home opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Panthers earned a six-inning run-rule victory over UT Martin 8-0 in the first game of the day followed by a 5-4 win in the late game thanks to a walk-off single from April Markowski.

With the two wins EIU improves to 7-15 on the season and 2-0 in the OVC while UT Martin fell to 15-12 and 0-2 in conference play. 

Jessica Wireman picked up both wins on the mound for EIU to improve to 6-12 this season. Wireman finished the day with 7.1 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts while recording one complete game shutout and only giving up five hits.

Markowski led the hitting for the Panthers finishing the day going 4-for-7 at the plate recording one RBI and two runs.

Wireman got the call to start the first of Saturday's two games against UT Martin. It wasn't until the bottom of the third inning that EIU broke the 0-0 stalemate as Haylee Beck doubled down the left field line. After a sacrifice bunt from Kayla Bear to advance Beck to third base and a Jennette Isaac walk, Katie Watson ripped a single into the outfield to score Beck and put the Panthers up 1-0.

EIU added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Beck and Mady Poulter crossed home plate due to two Skyhawk errors in the inning. The Panthers extended their lead to 3-0 following the two unearned runs. 

Wireman got into a little bit of trouble in the top of the sixth as UT Martin's Katie Warrick opened the inning with a stand-up double. Wireman hit the next batter to put runners on first and second with zero outs. Wireman was unphased striking out the next two batters and forcing a fly-out to end the inning still up 3-0. Wireman finished the game with eight strikeouts earning the complete game shutout.

The Panthers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth as Markowski, Jennifer Ames, and Andrea Roberts loaded the bases with one out. The Skyhawks' Brooke Kennedy walked Poulter to bring around one run before being replaced by Taylor Saxon. It would not matter though as Beck and Bear reached base bringing around two more runs to put the Panthers up 6-0 with two outs and runners on the corners. 

Isaac was the hero for EIU as she stepped up to the plate and hit a bases clearing double to give the Panthers the 8-0 run-rule victory i the bottom of the sixth inning. Isaac finished the game with three RBIs while both Beck and Katie Watson went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Michelle Rogers earned the start for EIU in the second game of the day which proved to be a much tighter contest for both teams.

EIU started the scoring off for both teams in the bottom of the third as Markowski and Ames led off the inning with back-to-back singles followed by a walk from Poulter to load the bases with no outs. Ashlynne Paul earned her sole RBI of the day on the next at-bat hitting a sacrifice fly to right field to score Markowski and make it 1-0 in favor of EIU. The Panthers added two more runs on the next two at bats as Beck continued the inning's hitting with a single to score one run. Poulter recorded the third run of the inning getting caught in a run-down between third base and home plate. Poulter was awarded the run after the Skyhawks' third baseman interfered with the runner putting the Panthers up 3-0. 

The Skyhawks cut into EIU's lead in the top of the third inning as Katie Warrick singled with the bases loaded to bring around two runs making the score 3-2. 

Ames added a small cushion for EIU in the bottom of the fourth inning with a lead-off solo home run to extend the Panthers lead to 4-2. Ames had the only home run for either team on the day.

UT Martin tied the game up in the top of the fifth inning as the Skyhawks managed to load the bases with two outs. Renate Meckl brought around the first runner with a single to left field. Kaci Daugherty came around to score on the next at-bat as Rogers walked Alli Fulcher to tie the game 4-4. Rogers managed to get out of the inning without any more problems, but was replaced by Wireman in the top of the sixth. Rogers finished with 5.2 innings pitched and one strikeout.

The game looked to be headed into extra innings as Markowski headed to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Markowski then hit a single through the right side to score Isaac from second base and earn the game winning RBI. 

Both Beck and Watson finished the day with three total hits as four Panthers hit .500 or better throughout the two games. Isaac led the team with three total RBIs and one successfully stolen base for EIU.

EIU wraps up their three-game series with UT Martin Sunday afternoon at 12 pm.
 
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