Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Eastern Illinois softball team split the opening day of the February Freezer Friday earning a 7-0 shutout victory over Southern Illinois before falling --- to host Mississippi State in the nightcap.
Michelle Rogers recorded her second shutout victory of the season earning the victory on the mound in EIU's tournament opener against the Salukis to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Haley Mitchell extended her hitting streak to 11 games as she was one of three Panthers to earn a hit in both games.
The Panthers opened tournament play Friday morning getting on the board in the bottom of the second inning against SIU.
Ashlynne Paul hit a two-out single up the middle with runners on the corners scoring
Amber Toenyes from third base to give EIU a 1-0 lead.
Mia Davis added to the Panther's lead the following inning with an RBI double to left field. Davis came around to score as Toenyes reached first on a throwing error from SIU's second baseman. The unearned run put EIU ahead 3-0 at the end of the third inning.
EIU broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning as both
Kayla Bear and Mitchell smashed two-run home runs to give the Panthers a 7-0 cushion over the Salukis.
Allison Golic came in to close out the game for EIU in the top of the seventh replacing Rogers on the mound. Rogers earned the victory to improve to 5-1 on the year going six innings and throwing four strikeouts while allowing only four hits.
In the nightcap game, hosts Mississppi State took an early lead off Reggie's Harrison's two-run home run in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs added another run in the second inning as Emily Heimberger managed to score from third base off a fielding error from the Panthers to buy MSU up 3-0 heading into the third.
The Panthers finally got on the board in the top of the third inning as
Jennifer Ames earned a lead-off walk. Ames eventually advanced to third and came around to score as Bear hit an infield single to MSU's shortstop who recorded an error allowing Ames to score the unearned run and make it 3-1.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the fifth inning off a solo home run from Olivia Golden to earn the final score of 4-1.
Jessica Wireman fell to 1-3 this season going six innings and throwing two strikeouts.
The Panthers continue tournament play Saturday morning against North Florida at 10 a.m.
