PEORIA, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball had its 2024 season come to a close on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers lost 4-2 to Southeast Missouri in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game.
EIU finished the season at 40-17 overall, tying the school record for wins in a season at the NCAA Division I level.
Southeast Missouri scored all four of its runs in the third inning against EIU starter
Olivia Price (12-10). Paige Halliwill led off the frame with a solo home run to break the scoreless tie.
Sydney Dennis had the big hit of the inning with a two-run double.
EIU had only two hits in the game against SEMO starter Paytience Holman (16-9).
Kendall Grover opened the game with a single.Â
McKenzie Oslanzi hit a two-run home run in the seventh as EIU threatened in the final frame.
Willow Van Haren collected the final two outs for the save.
EIU had OVC All-Tournament selections with Grover,
Jadin Justman and
Rachel Kaufman.
SEMO improved to 27-24.
