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Eastern Illinois University Athletics

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Paul EKU 2016
0
Eastern Kentucky EKU 26-7
1
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 11-23
Eastern Kentucky EKU
26-7
0
Final
1
Eastern Illinois EIU
11-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Eastern Kentucky EKU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 1

W: Wireman, Jessica (9-16) L: SALLBERG, Alex (8-3)

3
Eastern Kentucky EKU 12-23
7
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 26-8
Eastern Kentucky EKU
12-23
3
Final
7
Eastern Illinois EIU
26-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eastern Kentucky EKU 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 4
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 0 1 2 2 2 X 7 12 0

W: Rogers, Michelle (3-7) L: SALLBERG, Alex (8-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Sweeps OVC-Leading Colonels

EIU softball put on quite a show in Saturday's doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky handing EKU their first two losses in conference play

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - It was a record day for Eastern Illinois softball as the Panthers swept the OVC-leading Colonels of Eastern Kentucky in Saturday afternoon's doubleheader. The Panthers outlasted EKU in the first game earning a 1-0 win in 12 innings, before re-taking the field and downing the Colonels once again by a score of 7-3.

With the wins EIU improved to 12-23 overall and 6-6 in the OVC while handing Eastern Kentucky their first conference losses of the season as EKU fell to 26-8 and 10-2 in the OVC.

Jessica Wireman was on fire for EIU in the first game recording the complete-game shutout while throwing a career single-game record 22 strikeouts in her 12 innings on the mound. The game against the Colonels marks the first game since Feb. 12 against IUPUI that a pitcher has thrown more than 10 strikeouts. Michelle Rogers also earned a win for the Panthers on the mound going seven innings in game two and fanning three batters.

Jennette Isaac was a stellar 4-for-6 at the plate throughout both of Saturday's games to lead the Panther hitting.

EIU opened up Saturday's doubleheader against the Colonels at 1 pm as both Wireman and EKU pitcher Hayley Flynn put on a pitching display. 

The game would go on to last over three hours and 12 innings before either team could break the 0-0 deadlock. Both Flynn and Wireman held each team scoreless as the two pitchers combined for a whopping 45 strikeouts during the game. 

Flynn was eventually pulled after EIU loaded the bases in the top of the 11th inning with only one out. Alex Sallberg stepped in and managed to close out the inning unscathed as the teams headed into the 12th still tied 0-0. Flynn finished the game with 10.1 innings pitched and only four hits allowed while walking three batters in her time on the mound. 

The Panthers sealed the deal in the bottom of the 12th inning as April Markowski hit a lead-off single up the middle. Jennifer Ames then followed suit with a single of her own to center field to put Markowski on second base. Both runners advanced bases on the next at bat as Mady Poulter laid down a sacrifice bunt. It was Ashlynne Paul who recorded the game-winning RBI as she reached first base on an in-field fielder's choice allowing Markowski to score from third and earn the 1-0 walk-off victory for EIU.

It was the first time that the Panthers won a game in extra innings since the 10-9 victory against Southeast Missouri in last season's OVC tournament. The game against SEMO lasted 12 innings and was also the last time an EIU pitcher threw for more than nine innings. 

Both Markowski and Isaac recorded two hits in the first game while Wireman improved to 9-16 on the season after only giving up five hits and walking one batter.

It was a very different story in the late game for EIU as the Panther bats seemed to come alive.

The Colonels finally got on the board against the Panthers taking the lead in the top of the second inning. EKU's Rachel Minogue hit a two-out double to left center field to put a runner in scoring position. Sarah Jackson recorded the RBI on the next at-bat hitting a single into right center field allowing Minogue to come around and score to put the Colonels on top 1-0.

EIU struck back in the bottom of the third inning as Poulter legged out an infield single advancing to second on a mishandled catch by the first baseman. Poulter advanced to third following a single to the third baseman from Isaac on the next at-bat. Poulter was eventually brought in to score as Haylee Beck reached first base on an error from the shortstop to tie the game 1-1 following the unearned run.

The Panthers took the lead in the bottom of the fourth following a Kylie Bennett single down the right field line to open the inning. Ames put EIU in front blasting a two-run home run over the left field wall to record her fourth home run of the season and give the Panthers a 3-1 lead. 

Not to be outdone Bennett would return to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning and send one out over the center field wall scoring Katie Watson from first base and recording EIU's second two-run home run of the game. 

The Panthers took their 5-1 lead into the sixth inning where they would extend their lead yet again in the bottom of the inning. Kayla Bear led-off the inning reaching first base successfully after beating out the throw from EKU's third baseman on an infield bunt. Bear continued to show off her speed as Beck doubled to center field on the next at bat bringing Bear around to score from first base putting EIU up 6-1. Watson added one more run in the inning for the Panthers reaching first base on an error by the second baseman. Watson eventually advanced to second base and was then brought home following a single from Markowski to deep center field.

The Colonels did their best to get back into the game in the top of the seventh inning as Brittany Oldaker hit a two-run home run of her own to cut the EIU lead to 7-3, but that would be all EKU earned as the Panther defense closed out the game to record the win. 

This is the second time this season two Panthers have recorded a home run in the same game for EIU. The last time such a feat occurred was Feb. 19 against Troy when both Markowski and Ames homered. 

EIU continues their OVC weekend with a doubleheader Sunday against Morehead State. The first game against the Eagles is set for 12 pm after being moved up due to potential weather. 
 
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