Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Murray State's Mason Robinson spoiled EIU softball's return to action Friday afternoon pitching her second perfect game in her last three starts.
The 8-0 loss is only the second run-rule loss for the Panthers this season as they fall to 25-18 and 9-4 in conference play while Murray State improves to 34-14 and 10-5 in the OVC.
The Panthers were unable to get a single runner on base as Robinson recorded the perfect game throwing seven strikeouts over the six innings to improve to 22-7 this season.
Jessica Wireman recorded the loss snapping her nine-game winning streak to fall to 14-10 on the year. Wireman finished the game throwing 10 strikeouts over her 5.2 innings pitched while allowing only two earned runs.
After a one hour rain delay, the game looked to be a pitching dual between Wireman and Robinson with only one hit recorded throughout the first two innings. Wireman struck out six of MSU's first seven batters as MSU's Jessica Twaddle hit a solo home run in the top of the first to give the Racers a 1-0 lead.
Murray State added to their lead in the third inning as Mallory Young hit a lead-off single advancing to second off a Panther error. Young advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt on the following at-bat coming around to score off an RBI single from Brenna Finck. Finck eventually scored from third base off a double steal play to give Murray State a 3-0 lead at the end of the third inning.
The Racers exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth to secure the run-rule victory after Twaddle was able to reach first base on an error with two outs. Jocelynn Rodgers blasted a two-run home run on the next at-bat to make it 5-0. After another EIU error, Cayla Levins singled to keep the inning alive and put runners on first and second. Maggie Glass hit MSU's third home run of the game to clear the bases and earn the final score of 8-0.
EIU finished the game recording four errors.
Due to poor field conditions the second game was postponed to Saturday at 12 p.m.
