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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Big innings worked against Eastern Illinois softball in both of its games on Saturday at the Alabama State Black and Gold Tournament. 

In the early afternoon game EIU lost 7-4 to North Alabama after building an early lead in the game.  In the Saturday evening game, Eastern Kentucky had eight runs in the bottom of the first inning as they held on for a 13-11 win over EIU.

NORTH ALABAMA 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4
Eastern Illinois built on early lead in its first game on the second day of the Alabama State Black & Gold Tournament, but the Panthers could not overcome a late big inning by North Alabama in a 7-4 loss.

EIU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the contest behind the long ball.   In the first Jaylen Prichard hit a solo shot to left center to put the Panthers up 1-0.

Megan Burton would follow with a home run in the third delivering a two-run shot that scored Marama Makea.

EIU's final run in the game would also come courtesy of the long ball as Kendall Fields hit a solo shot to left in the seventh.

In between North Alabama was able to put together a big inning in the fifth scoring six runs, four of them unearned.  Haven Kirby started the Lions rally with two-run home run with one out in the inning.  UNA would get RBI singles from Emma Broadfoot and Malaeh Hargett to take a 4-3 lead after an EIU error extended the inning.  Harley Stokes followed with a two-run single to cap the scoring for UNA.

UNA added one more run in the sixth on a RBI triple by Mary Kilpatrick. 

Stokes, Kirby and Sidney Bevis all finished with two hits for UNA as they improved to 17-3 on the season.  Maci Birdyshaw improved to 7-0 in the circle.

Olivia Price (0-3) took the loss for EIU pitching into the fifth allowing just two earned runs.  EIU fell to 7-11 with the loss.
Burton, Prichard and Makea all finished with two hits for EIU.

EASTERN KENTUCKY 13, EASTERN ILLINOIS 11
After falling behind early, Eastern Illinois rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning only to have Eastern Kentucky win the game with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh.  EKU won 13-11.

EKU scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning taking advantage of four walks in the frame.  Samantha Reynoso had the big hit of the inning with a three-run double.

The Colonels extended their lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the second with three more runs against the EIU pitching staff.  Gracie Frazier drew a bases loaded walk and Jasmine Miller had an RBI single.

The Panthers slowly climbed back in the game with a single run in the third and three more in the fourth.  Riley Dittmar, Megan Burton and Hannah Cravens all drove in runs in the fourth for EIU.

EIU inched closer in the fifth with RBI produced by Dittmar, Jaylen Prichard and Lindy Milkowski.

Burton then tied the game for the Panthers in the top of the sixth with a bases loaded two-run single. 

Carly Robinson would end the Panthers hopes for a complete comeback with a two-run walk off home run in the seventh. 

Bethany Todd picked up the win in relief to improve to 1-7 as EKU moved to 3-14 overall.  Reynoso had three hits to lead EKU.

Rachel Kaufman suffered the loss in relief falling to 2-4 as EIU dropped to 7-12 on the season.  Burton and Briana Gonzalez each had three hits to lead EIU.