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Game 2 Box
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois softball opened the UT Chattanooga Frost Classic Friday Feb. 23 with two games. The Panthers defeated Western Michigan 11-3 Friday morning and UT Chattanooga 4-3 to finish the day.
Haley Mitchell hit two home runs vs. WMU, while
Kendyl McKeough hit a three-run homer to take the lead over UTC.
The Panthers win streak extends to seven straight games as EIU softball improves to 9-3 overall.
The Panthers came out swinging vs. Western Michigan Friday morning. The team combined for ten hits and ten RBIs. EIU hit three doubles, one triple, and four home runs to win their sixth straight game.
Haley Mitchell led the Panthers vs. the Broncos with two home runs and four RBIs. Her first home run came at the bottom of the first inning following a triple by
Mady Poulter. Later in the third inning, Mitchell hit her second homer to score her and Poulter for the second time to put the Panthers up 5-0. WMU got on the board with two runs at the top of the fourth, but the Panthers went on to score three more runs.
Mia Davis doubled to right center to tally her two RBIs of the game.
Morgan LaMore and
Jennifer Ames each knocked one out of the park for the Panthers, while
Tori Johnson and
Kayla Bear tallied doubles in the first game of the tournament. Bear also recorded two stolen bases for EIU.
Jessica Wireman collected her fifth win improving to 5-0 on the mound. She tallied seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
Valerie Thompson faced one batter for the Panthers at the bottom of the sixth inning.
EIU played host UT Chattanooga to finish up the first day tournament play. UTC struck first scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Both teams held tight defensively through the next two innings.
UTC started the fourth inning with two quick outs before walking
Megan Burton. Burton advanced on
Maria DeVito's single to the right side of the field. McKeough went to the plate for her second at bat of the season pinch hitting for
Michelle Rogers. McKeough connected hitting her first career home run to put the Panthers up 3-1.
The Mocs went on to score two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game up at 3-3. Bear scored the game-winning run of EIU in the top of the seventh off a single to right center by Davis.
Four players split time on the mound for EIU. Thompson recorded her first win of the season improving to 1-0, while Wireman tallied her second save.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow vs. Evansville at 12:30 pm followed by IUPUI at 3 pm.
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