Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Eastern Illinois softball fell just short in its bid to knock off Big Ten member Washington as the Panthers lost 3-2 in eight innings on Thursday night at Williams Field.
 
It was the first appearance to Charleston by a Power Four Conference team since 2012 when Illinois made the trip.
 
Washington took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Tia Durst had a two-out single.  Durst moved to second on a stolen base before coming around to score on a single to right by Riley Pesheck.
 
The Panthers took a 2-1 lead in their half of the fourth.  Kendall Grover led off the inning with a double to left field.  Following a walk to Briana Gonzalez, Alisha Frederick laced a double to right center that scored both Grover and Gonzalez.
 
The Huskies tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ava Carroll.  UW scored in the top of the eighth as Durst drew a bases loaded walk to plate the winning run.  Durst had two hits for the Huskies joining Giselle Alvarez who also had two hits.
 
Grover and Abbey Crain each had two hits to the lead the Panthers offense as they fell to 15-15 on the season.  Bryanna French (2-4) suffered the loss in relief as the third pitcher of the game for the Panthers.
 
Morgan Reimer (10-4) picked up the win in relief as the third pitcher of the day for Washington as the Huskes improved to 25-9.