Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Eastern Illinois softball team avenged last season's 3-0 loss against Butler Tuesday afternoon grinding out a 2-0 victory in Indianapolis to improve to 23-16 on the season while the Bulldogs drop to 17-20.
The Panther bullpen shined once again as the combined efforts of
Jessica Wireman and
Michelle Rogers held the Bulldogs to two hits during the mid-week contest. Wireman recorded the win throwing six strikeouts over 4.1 innings before Rogers came in to close out the game fanning three batters to earn her second save of the season.
Three Panthers recorded multiple hits during the game with
Tori Johnson leading the way going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.
The deciding run of the game came in the top of the fifth inning as Rogers smacked a single up the middle. Rogers has done well at the plate so far this season hitting .333 in her 15 at-bats this year finishing today's game 2-for-3 marking her first career multi-hit game.
After her lead-off hit, the Panthers played some excellent small ball to advance
Amber Matchett, who came in to pinch-run for Rogers, to third base following a sacrifice bunt from
Mady Poulter and a ground-out from
Jennifer Ames. Johnson put the Panthers in front on the next at-bat with an RBI single up the middle to give EIU a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers added a one-run cushion in the top of the seventh inning as
Amber Toenyes reached first base off a Bulldog error to open the inning.
Katie Grunert replaced Toenyes at first advancing to second off a single from Rogers and eventually stole third base with two outs. Johnson logged her second RBI of the game with a single to center field to secure the 2-0 win for EIU.
Taylor Monahan was the only other Panther to log a hit in the game going 2-for-3 at the plate. Butler's Jenna Foreman recorded all of the Bulldogs' hits during the game finishing 2-for-3.
The win is Wireman's seventh in a row as the Louisville, Ky. native improves to 12-9 on the mound.
EIU returns to Williams Field Friday (Apr. 14) to host OVC foe UT Martin in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
