** NOTE ** Story has been updated as a change in the line-up was not recorded in the stats originally provided on Monday morning. EIU had two pitchers combine for the pitching performance...Â
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Behind a strong pitching performance by
Tieghan Morio and
Rachel Kaufman along with some timely hitting, Eastern Illinois softball won its fourth straight game as the Panthers closed out the SIU Saluki Invite with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois on Monday morning.
Kaufman started the game and faced the first batter in the fourth. Morio closed out the game pitching four scoreless innings to improve to 3-3 on the season. The two pitchers allowed six hits with one earned run and six strikeouts.Â
The one run for NIU came in the top of the first on an RBI single by Avery Carnahan who was thrown out to end the inning after driving in the Huskies lone run.
EIU responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs as
Lindy Milkowski delivered a two-run home run to left. It was Milkowski's fifth home run of the season as she now has a team high 22 RBI this season.
The Panthers tacked on an insurance run in the third on an RBI double by
Hannah Cravens. Cravens was 2-for-3 in the game while
Jaylen Prichard had a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
EIU improved to 11-12 on the season with the win.
Delaney Ostrowski suffered the loss falling to 1-3 on the year as NIU dropped to 6-8 on the season. Katie Keller and Kelly Walinski each had two hits for the Huskies.
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