Eastern Illinois softball opponents each had one big inning in Saturday's games that the Panthers were unable to overcome as they fell to 4-10 on the season. EIU dropped the final game of pool play to Florida A&M, 8-2, in the morning. In the evening, they lost to host FIU for the second time with a 7-4 setback. EIU closes the FIU Softball Classic on Sunday morning with one more game against Florida A&M at 8 am (Central).
FAMU 8, EIU 2
Florida A&M scored runs in the first and second inning with those early scores standing up in an 8-2 win over Eastern Illinois the morning game of the FIU Softball Classic.
The Rattlers drew a bases loaded walk in the first for their run before an RBI single by Ciara Maple in the second extended the lead to 2-0.
Unearned runs hurt the Panthers in the fifth as FAMU scored three unearned runs in that frame before Samantha Smith delivered a two run single in the sixth which put Florida A&M up 8-0.
EIU broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Marybeth Dyson had an RBI single to start the scoring with
Maddux Marshall adding an RBI later in the inning.
Lexie Griffin had two of EIU's seven hits in the game.
Rylan Gick (1-2) took the loss for the Panthers in the circle.
Neriah Lee had three hits to lead FAMU's offense as the Rattlers improved to 7-5. Zoryana Hughes (3-2) picked up the win.
FIU 7, EIU 4
Eastern Illinois led 4-2 in the fourth inning before FIU rallied to knock off the Panthers in the second game on Saturday evening winning 7-4.
Lexie Griffin set the tone for EIU's offense in the first inning with a three-run homer to score
Abbi Hatton and
Marybeth Dyson and put the Panthers up 3-0. It was Griffin's second home run this season.
FIU chipped away at that lead with a sacrifice fly in the first and a Kaleena Downing RBI single in the second.
The Panthers executed their second double steal of home in the tournament in the fourth with
Maddux Marshall taking second and
Emily Konkel swiping home. Konkel pinch ran for Griffin who opened in the inning with an infield single.
Griffin had two of the Panthers four hits in the game. Dyson and
Chloe Wamboldt had the others.
Riley Silvers tied the game for FIU with a two-run homer at the start of the fourth and Kennedy Byrd added a two-run homer later in the inning for insurance.
Meagan Villazon (2-0) went the distance in the circle for FIU as they improved to 13-2 overall.
Karlie McKenzie (0-5) suffered the loss in relief for EIU.
