|
Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball split its Saturday doubleheader with Belmont at Williams Field, but after winning the Friday night opener the Panthers won the weekend series to improve to 12-5 overall, 5-1 in the OVC. Belmont exited the weekend at 6-9 overall, 2-4 in the OVC.
EIU won game one of Saturday's doubleheader 12-6 before Belmont salvaged the final game of the series 7-4.
In the opener EIU once again jumped out in front on a three-run home run by
Haley Mitchell in the bottom of the first. The Panthers would extend that lead to 5-0 in the second on a
Hannah Cravens two run double.
The Bruins rallied in the top of the third scoring five runs against EIU starter
Sydney Cammon. Belmont strung together six straight hits with RBI singles in the rally by Kaley Varner, Cheyenne Cavanaugh and Alicia Veltre.
Belmont would take a 6-5 lead in the fourth as Cavanaugh had her second RBI single of the game. The single scored MyKayla Spurlin who was 2-for-3 for the game with two doubles. Cavanaugh added two hits for Belmont.
Olivia Price would come in to pitch in relief for EIU in the fourth and scattered two hits in four innings of relief. The Panthers would provide the freshman some offense in the bottom of the fourth and sixth frames as she improved to 3-1 on the year.
The Panthers big blow in the fourth came on a two-run double by
Mia Davis as she was 2-for-3 in the game. In the sixth it was clutch pinch hitting for EIU, first by
Abi Stahlhut and then by
Andrea Sampson with a three run double to clear the bases.
Morgan Lewis added two hits for EIU while
Megan Burton scored four runs in the game, hitting a solo home run. Autumn McDaniel (2-2) suffered the loss in relief for Belmont.
In the night cap, EIU again got on the board in the first inning as Burton hit a solo home run, the first of two by the Panthers shortstop in the game.
Belmont connect for its first home run of the weekend in the fourth as Abi Ledbetter hit a solo shot to right to tie the game at 1-1. Elison Ollinger would triple to follow Ledbetter and came around to score on an RBI ground out by Spurlin which gave Belmont a 2-1 lead.
The Bruins would add to that with four runs in the fourth providing starter Alicia Veltre all the support she would need in a complete game win. Veltre improved to 4-5 on the year.
Jade Montgomery was credited with the loss for EIU falling to 5-4.
In the fourth Ollinger connected for a three-run home run as she was 2-for-3 on the day. Ledbetter was 4-for-4 on the afternoon for the Bruins.
EIU added a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh on Burton's third home run of the day. Burton was the lone Panther with multiple hits in the night cap, going 2-for-4.
