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Eastern Illinois University Athletics

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Markowski SEMO 2016
3
Southeast Missouri SEMO 15-32
4
Winner Eastern Illinois EIU 22-25
Southeast Missouri SEMO
15-32
3
Final
4
Eastern Illinois EIU
22-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Southeast Missouri SEMO 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 5 1
Eastern Illinois EIU 0 0 1 2 0 1 X 4 7 1

W: Wireman, Jessica (16-17) L: KRUMREY, Madeline (5-14)

Game Recap: Softball |

Late Home Run Lifts Panthers Over SEMO

EIU softball downed SEMO 4-3 Saturday afternoon thanks to a solo home run from April Markowski in the sixth inning.

Box Score | Photo Gallery (By Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball opened their three-game series with a 4-3 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday afternoon. The panthers pulled out the win in spectacular fashion as April Markowski blasted a solo home run to give EIU the victory.

The Panthers were originally set to play a doubleheader today, but due to the threat of severe weather postponed game two of the series to Sunday afternoon. EIU and SEMO will now play a doubleheader on Sunday with the first pitch set for 12 pm.

With the win, EIU improves 22-25 on the season and 16-7 in the OVC while the Redhawks fall to 15-32 and 9-16 in the conference. Kylie Bennett, Ashlynne Paul, and Markowski all had phenomenal games finishing the day 2-for-3 at the plate combining for all four of EIU's runs and three of the Panthers RBIs. 

Jessica Wireman improved to 16-17 on the mound after throwing nine strikeouts in her 21st complete game of the season.

Southeast Missouri threatened early loading the bases in the top of the first inning, but Wireman and the Panther defense managed to get out of the inning still deadlocked at 0-0.

The Panthers got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Paul hit a double to left center field to get into scoring position. Paul advanced to third base as Isaac reached first safely thanks to an error from SEMO's first baseman. 

Kayla Bear brought her around on the next at-bat with an RBI single to right field to give EIU the 1-0 lead. Bear would steal second during the next at-bat to earn her 18th stolen base of the season to break the all-time freshman single-season record previously held by Melise Brown and Angie Danca.

Bennett extended the Panther's lead in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off solo home run to make it 2-0. Bennett now has nine home runs this season which is just one shy of tying Bailey O'Dell for most in a single-season.

Markowski followed up Bennett's home run by legging out an infield single to reach first safely. A sacrifice bunt from Mady Poulter advanced Markowski all the way to third base before Paul finished the job on the next at-bat with an RBI single up the middle. 

The Redhawks pulled one back in the top of the fifth as Darby Pruett pinch hit for Mackenzie Hoelting to start the inning. Pruett struck out swinging but reached base safely making it all the way to second base following an error from Paul on the throw. Pruett eventually scored after advancing on back-to-back groundouts to make it 3-1.

SEMO went on to tie the game in the top of the sixth as Savannah Carpenter singled to open the inning. the Redhawks' Brittany Stevens tied it up with a two-out home run over the left center field wall to make it 3-3.

Not to be outdone Markowski followed suit in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run over to left center field to regain the lead 4-3. That would prove to be the deciding run as the Panthers closed out game one winning 4-3.

Both teams were set to play game two of the series, but lightning in the area and the threat of severe weather forced the two teams to push the game to Sunday afternoon.
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