EIU Splits on Friday

Eastern Illinois softball opened the UT Chattanooga Frost Classic with a five-inning 9-1 victory over Northern Kentucky before falling to the host Mocs 3-0 in their second game of the day. With the first day split EIU is now 4-8 on the season.

Katie Watson led the Panther offense going 5-of-7 at the plate on the day with two runs, two RBIs, one double, and one home run throughout the first two games.

Michelle Rogers earned the start for the Panthers in EIU's first game of the tournament against NKU recording her first win of the season.

The Panthers jumped out to a quick lead over Northern Kentucky as Watson sent one into the bleachers in the top of the first inning with two outs to put EIU up 1-0. 

EIU blew the game open in the top of the second inning loading the bases with the first three batters. Andrea Roberts came home to score as all batters advanced due to a passed ball from NKU's Ashlynn Roberts. Haylee Beck cleared the bases on the next at bat drilling a single to second base and putting EIU up 4-0 over the Norse. 

Beck eventually made it 5-0 after April Markowski's double put her on third base only to be sent home on a single to left field from Kayla Bear. Both Bear and Markowski advanced on the throw to put runners on second and third base with Watson back up to bat. An error from Northern Kentucky allowed Watson to reach first and advance to second once again bringing a runner around to score making it 6-0 in the top of the second inning with runners on second and third base.

The Norse finally earned their first out of the second inning as Kylie Bennett grounded out to first base but not before earning the RBI as Bear jumped on the opportunity, crossing home plate. EIU added two more runs in the top of the second as Mady Poulter reached on a fielder's choice bringing Watson home from third base. Poulter scored all the way from first as Roberts reached on an error from the Norse's short stop. 

Northern Kentucky finally made it out of the inning, but not before the damage was done as EIU led 9-0.

Northern Kentucky got one back in the bottom of the second as Kate Bartolovich scored from third base on a balk to make it 9-1.

That is all it would take as Rogers and the EIU defense closed out the game in five innings. Rogers finished the game with five strikeouts

The Panthers continued the first day of the Frost Classic with a game against hosts UT Chattanooga. Jessica Wireman was on the mound for EIU in their second game finishing with five strikeouts. 

Unlike the first game of the day, the Panthers struggled to get their bats going against the Mocs.

UTC's Anyssa Robles put the Mocs on the board first in the bottom of the first inning hitting a double to left field to bring around the runner on second base and put UT Chattanooga up 1-0. The Mocs would add a second run on yet another double, this time in the third inning as Jordan Fortel sent a ball into centerfield to earn the RBI and make it 2-0 in favor of UT Chattanooga. 

Fortel added her second RBI of the game two innings later reaching first on a fielder's choice that saw Sam Taylor round third base and come home to give the Mocs a 3-0 lead.

With the loss Wireman falls to 3-7 on the season.

Jennifer Ames finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate. Beck had a solid first day in the tournament as well finishing with two hits, one run, and two RBIs.

EIU continues tournament play Saturday morning against Kentucky at 11 am followed by an afternoon game against Lipscomb at 3 pm.