NASHVILLE - Eastern Illinois softball drops two games today at the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb in Nashville. The Panthers fell 3-1 in game one of the day vs. Miami (OH) and came up short to Lipscomb falling 5-3. The Panthers are now 3-12 to start the season.

EIU will play two more games tomorrow starting with a rematch at Lipscomb at 3 pm. The final game of the weekend will be at 5:30 pm vs. Appalachian State.

Game 1
The Panthers fell in game one 3-1 to Miami (OH). Mady Poulter, Breya Cooper, and Kendyl McKeough combined for EIU's three hits in the game.

EIU scored their only run of the game in the first inning. Cooper singled through the right side advancing Poulter to third base. Poulter would go on to score on a throwing error by the right fielder. Miami scored the game winning run in the fifth inning on a two-run homer by Ashton Slone. They added another run in the sixth to secure the win.

McKenna Coffman made the start on the mound falling to 1-3 this year. Sydney Cammon saw 1.2 innings of action. Both retired one batter each.

Game 2
The Panthers fell in another close match-up to end the day. Lipscomb beat EIU 5-3.

Lipscomb jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the third inning after scoring three in the first and one in the second and third innings.

Megan Burton, Mia Davis, and Morgan LaMore all scored in the top of the sixth inning in an attempt to rally EIU's offense, but Lipscomb would hold strong in the final inning walking away with the win.

Burton and Tayler Wullenweber both hit triples in the game while Davis homered for the Panthers. Burton also had EIU's only stolen base.

Jade Montgomery pitched the whole game for the Panthers recording two strikeouts as she falls to 0-7 on the mound.