Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score
RICHMOND, Ky. - After winning the first game Sunday afternoon, the Eastern Illinois softball team saw their eight-game win streak snapped earning the doubleheader split at Eastern Kentucky.
The loss marks EIU's first OVC loss since their conference opener against Belmont as the Panthers drop to 22-16 and 8-2 in conference play. Eastern Kentucky goes to 15-22 overall and 4-5 in the OVC following the split.
Jessica Wireman managed to keep her win streak alive recording the win in EIU's opening game pitching all seven innings and throwing 11 strikeouts to improve to 11-9.
Newcomers
Mia Davis,
Haley Mitchell, and
Kiley Pelker all recorded two RBIs each to account for six of EIU's eight runs on the day.
The Panthers raced out of the gates early as
Kayla Bear struck a lead-off triple down the left field line to open the game one. Bear eventually scored off an RBI groundout from Davis to give EIU a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
Pelker extended the Panthers' lead in the following inning blasting a two-run shot over the left field wall to make it 3-0. The Colonels followed suit in the bottom of the second with back-to-back solo home runs from Hannah Clark and Paige Murphy to pull EKU within one run 3-2.
Taylor Monahan opened the third inning drawing a walk for the Panthers eventually stealing second base. Mitchell brought Monahan around to score with a single to left center field giving EIU a two-run cushion with the score standing at 4-2.
The Panthers made it four straight innings with a run scored thanks to an RBI single from
Maria DeVito scoring Pelker from second base to make it 5-2 heading into the fifth inning. Pelker finished the game with two runs scored and two RBIs despite recording only one hit.
EIU remained silent until the seventh inning when the Panthers loaded the bases off the first three batters. The Panthers managed to get two runs across off a Colonel error to earn the final score of 7-2.
Wireman extended her winning streak on the mound with back-to-back double-digit strikeout performances for her second complete game of the weekend.
Both Bear and Mitchell finished the first game 2-for-4 at the plate with Mitchell recording two RBIs.
Scoring did not come as easily for the Panthers in game two Sunday. It wasn't until the third inning when the Panthers got on the board following a lead-off single from Bear. The sophomore outfielder showcased her base running skills advancing to third off a wild pitch and stolen base. Davis broke the scoreless deadlock with a sacrifice fly to score Bear from third and give EIU a 1-0 lead.
EKU tied the game back up shortly afterward in the bottom of the third inning off an RBI double from Rachel Minogue. Minogue would come around to score on the following at-bat as Johnkyria Alston singled to left field to give the Colonels a 2-1 lead.
The Colonels managed to keep the Panthers at bay the rest of the game to earn the 2-1 victory.
EKU's Minogue finished the game 3-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
The Panthers close out their seven-game road trip at Butler this Tuesday (Apr. 11) at 4 p.m.
