Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Eastern Illinois softball team kept their win streak alive sweeping Morehead State in Saturday's doubleheader to open their weekend in Kentucky. With the win the Panthers improve to 21-15 overall and 7-1 in OVC play while Morehead State drops to 20-14 and 3-5 in the conference.
Jessica Wireman had a phenomenal day on the mound for the Panthers earning a complete game shutout in game one throwing 12 strikeouts and allowing only three hits in her seven innings of work. The Louisville, Ky. native finished the day with 16 total strikeouts recording her third save of the season during EIU's second game against the Eagles.
Wireman and Morehead State's Chelsea McManaway found themselves in a pitching dual throughout the majority of the opening game Saturday as both pitchers combined for 25 strikeouts with McManaway striking out EIU's first eight batters.
The Panthers didn't record their first hit of the game until the fourth inning thanks to a single from
Taylor Monahan. There were only a combined five hits between both teams throughout the opening game.
EIU got on the board in the fifth inning as
Haley Mitchell recorded the Panthers only other hit of the game with a lead-off single only to be replaced by
Amber Matchett coming in to pinch run. After
Amber Toenyes was walked on the following at-bat,
Mady Poulter laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners to second and third.
The Panthers were able to take the lead off an Eagle miscue as McManaway threw a wild pitch during the next at-bat to bring in Matchett to score from third base.
Kiley Pelker added one more run for EIU hitting a sacrifice fly to left field allowing a pinch running
Katie Grunert to score and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
That would prove to be all the Panthers needed as Wireman and the EIU defense were able to keep Morehead State at bay and record the shutout victory.
Wireman's 12 strikeouts against Morehead State marked only the fifth time she has earned 10 or more strikeouts in a game. With the win Wireman earns a winning record on the mound for the first time this season improving to 10-9 with her fifth straight win. McManaway finished the game throwing 13 strikeouts of her own falling to 12-6 on the year.
It was a much different game in the nightcap for EIU as the Panthers took the lead early in the top of the first inning.
Kayla Bear opened the game with a lead-off single eventually stealing second and third base.
Mia Davis brought Bear in to score with an RBI single to give EIU a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
Morehead State responded in the bottom of the fourth inning as Robyn Leighton smashed a two-run home run to put the Eagles on top 2-1. After a single and a walk, Morehead State's Abigail Rhodes struck a bases-clearing triple to extend the Eagles lead to 4-1 forcing a pitching change from the Panthers.
Freshman
Allison Golic took the mound to replace
Michelle Rogers sitting down the next four batters for Morehead State.
EIU cracked open the game in the top of the sixth inning with a lead-off double from Davis. The Panthers managed to load the bases on the first three batters as Poulter and
Jennifer Ames recorded back-to-back RBI singles on the following at-bats to bring EIU within one run of the Eagles with zero outs.
Bear tied the game up for the Panthers reaching first on an error by the Eagles' second baseman advancing all runners and knotting the game up 4-4. The Panthers regained the lead on the next at-bat thanks to a two-RBI single from Monahan to make it 6-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Taylor Wheeler opened the bottom of the inning with a lead-off triple for the Eagles forcing coach Schuette to make another pitching change as Wireman came in for her second appearance of the day. MSU's Helyna Bissell took it right to Wireman with a double on the next at-bat scoring Wheeler to make it 6-5.
Following the double, Wireman re-gained her composure striking out four of the final seven batters to secure the win for EIU and record the save.
Golic recorded the win on the mound for EIU to improve to 2-0 on the season allowing only one hit in her 1.1 innings on the mound. Davis finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate to lead all batters.
The Panthers close out the weekend with a doubleheader at Eastern Kentucky Sunday starting at 12 p.m.
