NASHVILLE – Eastern Illinois softball had its nine game win streak snapped on Saturday afternoon as Tennessee State was able to slow down what had been a high-powered Panthers offense.
TSU won both games of Saturday's OVC doubleheader at Tiger Field, winning both by one run. TSU won the opener 2-1 before rallying to win the nightcap 4-3.
EIU fell to 16-14 overall, 3-2 in the OVC. TSU improved to 11-17 overall, 2-3 in the OVC. The final game of the weekend series will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
TSU 2, EIU 1
The series opener between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State evolved into a pitchers battle as the Tigers scored two runs in the fifth and held on for a 2-1 win over EIU.
Alexa Rehmeier allowed just four TSU hits while striking out nine batters as she pitched a complete game for EIU in the circle falling to 6-3.
Caitlyn Manus pitched 5.2 strong innings for TSU to pick up the win improving to 6-4. She allowed four hits and no runs as EIU's lone run came in the seventh inning against the Tigers relief pitcher.
TSU scored its first run with a two-run RBI triple by Marisa Mauroschadt. She would come home to score the second Tigers run when Jasmine Brown beat out an infield bunt that would have ended the frame.
EIU attempted to rally in the seventh as
Andrea Sampson reached on an error to lead off the inning in a pinch hitting role.
Briana Gonzalez reentered to run and came around to score on an RBI single by
Megan Burton. Burton advanced to second but could move up no further as Manus returned to the game tocollect the final two outs.
Peyton Fointno was the lone player on either team with multiple hits in the game going 2-for-3 for TSU.
TSU 4, EIU 3
Eastern Illinois built a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader but the Panthers could not hold the lead as TSU scored two in the bottom of the inning to win 4-3.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the fifth
Jaylen Prichard and
Hannah Cravens both reached with one out in the inning; Prichard on a single, Cravens on a Tigers fielding error.
Lindy Milkowski would tie the game with an RBI single to left before Cravens took advantage of a passed ball with bases loaded to give the Panthers the one-run edge.
In the bottom of the fifth TSU put runners on with two outs. Peyton Fointno then tripled to right field to score both Tigers runners and give TSU a lead it would not relinquish.
EIU opened the game scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single by Milkowski to right field. Milkowski, Cravens and Prichard all finished with two hits in the game for EIU.
TSU took a 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Anayah Baker. Jasmine Brown was the lone TSU player with multiple hits in the game going 2-for-3 as TSU had six total hits.
Raven Loveless picked up the win in relief for TSU improving to 4-7 on the year.
Rachel Kaufman suffered the loss in relief falling to 2-5.
