Game Notes
Panther Slap Hits
Eastern Illinois softball will close the 2019 season at home this weekend with two conference doubleheaders. The Panthers will play Belmont on Friday starting at 4 pm. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday but moved due to expected rain in the Charleston area. EIU will close the season with Senior Day on Sunday vs. Tennessee State. The senior celebration will happen between the games on Williams Field.
The three seniors being honored this Sunday are
Ashley Bartlett,
Breya Cooper, and
Mady Poulter. Poulter will finish in the career-top ten for games played, started, walks drawn, and runs scored.
The Panthers are coming off a 7-1 win over IUPUI in their final non-conference game earlier this week. Poulter tallied two of EIU's 11 hits, while nine other players recorded one in the win making it a full team effort.
Haley Mitchell hit a two-run homer in the first inning.
McKenna Coffman improved to 5-11 on the mound.
The Weekend Batting Order
Fri., April 26 • Belmont
4 pm • Williams Field
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
Series Record: EIU leads 9-1
Last Meeting: Mar 24, 2018 - W, 3-2 (9), W, 11-8
Fri., April 26 • Belmont
6 pm • Williams Field
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
Series Record: EIU leads 9-1
Last Meeting: Mar 24, 2018 - W, 3-2 (9), W, 11-8
Sun., April 28 • Belmont
12 pm • Williams Field
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
Radio:Â
The Odyssey (Internet Only)
Series Record: EIU leads 45-11
Last Meeting: Mar 25, 2018 - W, 6-1, W 5-1
Sun., April 28 • Belmont
12 pm • Williams Field
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
Radio:
The Odyssey (Internet Only)
Series Record: EIU leads 45-11
Last Meeting: Mar 25, 2018 - W, 6-1, W 5-1
Scouting the Field
Belmont is 26-19 overall and 8-8 in the OVC heading into Friday's doubleheader. They currently rank sixth in OVC standings looking to stay in the running for post-season play. Baylee Cook bats .384 to lead the Bruins. She has a team-best 56 hits on the season. Hayley Baker has 49 hits with a team-best 14 doubles and 41 RBI. Alicia Veltri and Brooklin Lee are Belmont's go-to pitchers. Veltri has a 2.50 ERA and 127 strikeouts to go with a 12-8 record. Lee has a 2.53 ERA and 121 strikeouts to go with a 11-8 record.
Tennessee State is 10-36 overall and 3-13 in the OVC heading into the weekend. Bri Vire bats .325 for the Tigers with a team-best 38 hits and 20 runs scored. Reese Weber has 32 hits with 14 RBI. Raven Loveless has a 3.48 ERA with an 8-12 record on the mound. She has seven complete games, one save, and 55 strikeouts on the year.
