Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score |
Photo Gallery (By
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois softball team closed out the 2017 regular season recording the doubleheader split against SIU Edwardsville Saturday afternoon. The Cougars picked up a 6-0 win in game one holding EIU to only one hit, before the Panthers roared back to take game two 7-4.
With the split the Panthers close out the regular season 27-19 overall and 10-5 in the OVC while SIUE finishes the year 38-11 and 13-5 in conference play.
Senior
Amber Toenyes was the only Panther to record a hit in both games as SIUE's Haley Chambers-Book nearly threw a no-hitter in game one fanning six batters while walking two.
After being held hit-less in the first game freshman
Haley Mitchell shined in EIU's nightcap going 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs thanks to a double and a grand slam. Mitchell's grand slam marks the first time a Panther has accomplished such a feat since Bailey O'Dell during the 2015 season.
The Cougar's Allison Smiley went 2-for-4 at the plate to open the day recording four of SIUE's six RBIs in game one tallying a two-run home run and a double. A sacrifice fly from Maria Prete and a solo home run from Alyssa Heren gave SIUE the 6-0 victory.
EIU's only hit of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning as Toenyes struck a two-out single through the right side to spoil the no-hitter for Chambers-Book.
The Panthers rallied in game two against the Cougars getting on the board early in the bottom of the first inning. After
Taylor Monahan reached first on an error, Mitchell recorded her first RBI of the game hitting a double through the right side to give EIU a 1-0 lead.
Mitchell extended the Panthers lead in the following inning as EIU loaded the bases off three singles. The San Gabriel, Ca. native then stepped up to bat blasting a grand slam down the left field line just inside the foul pole to put EIU up 5-0.
The Panthers added two more runs in the fourth inning as
Kayla Bear struck a lead-off solo home run to log her only hit of the day. Bear finished the day with two runs scored.
Taylor Monahan followed the home run up with an infield bunt single eventually stealing second base and advancing to third on a single from Mitchell. Toenyes singled on the following at-bat to score Monahan and give EIU the 7-0 lead. Monahan recorded three runs scored on the day.
SIUE attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh inning as an RBI single from Tess Eby broke the shutout to make it 7-1. Chambers-Book brought two more around to score with a double to right center field cutting into the Panther lead 7-3. Chambers-Book finished the day 4-for-7 at the plate recording two RBIs over the two-game span.
Chambers-Book added one more run for SIUE scoring off a Panther error before EIU closed out the inning to earn the 7-4 victory.
Michelle Rogers recorded the win on the mound striking out three batters and improving to 10-8 on the year.
Having already secured a spot in the OVC Tournament, the Panthers will now wait to see where they will be seeded and who they will face when the tournament begins Wednesday (May 10).
