EIU Softball Drops 6-4 Decision In Tourney

It was a wild day in Oxford for Eastern Illinois' round two game against Eastern Kentucky as the game, originally set for 12:30, was delayed five and a half hours due to severe weather. The first pitch of the game was finally thrown at 6 pm as the Panthers eventually fell to EKU 6-4 in their late night game.

With the loss EIU heads to the loser's bracket of the tournament where they will face the winners of the UT Martin and Murray State game Friday at 12:30 pm.

Jessica Wireman and Hayley Flynn once again squared off on the mound for both teams. The last time these two met they combined for 45 strikeouts in EIU's 1-0 win in 12 innings. It was a little more tame this time around as both pitchers finished the game combining for only 12 strikeouts. Wireman recorded the complete game fanning five batters and walking three.  

It looked to be yet another pitching dual between Wireman and Flynn each team was held scoreless through two full innings.

The Colonels broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as EKU's Kayla Joyce doubled to center field to bring around Amber Murray to score from first base. Joyce eventually advanced to third on a pass ball. EKU scored one more as Sarah Fobbs hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Jennette Isaac had a great throw to home plate, but the ump ruled obstruction on Ashlynne Paul and awarded EKU the run to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.

EIU answered right back in the bottom of the third as Mady Poulter started the inning with a lead-off walk. Paul laid down the sacrifice bunt on the next at-bat, but a throwing error from EKU's first baseman allowed Paul to make it all the way to third and Poulter to score. After Jennifer Ames came in to pinch run, Kayla Bear tied the game up with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field to make it 2-2.

The scoring continued in the top of the fourth inning as Brittany Oldaker hit a two-out single to right field. Amber Murray gave EKU the lead on the next at-bat hitting a two-run shot over the right center field wall to make it 4-2.

Not to be out done the Panthers came right back in the bottom of the inning as back-to-back solo home runs from Kylie Bennett and Amber Toenyes tied the game back up 4-4. Bennett added to her single season record total with 12 home runs on the season now, while Toenyes earned her first home run on the year to tie the game.

EKU regained the lead once again in the top of the sixth as the Colonels put runners on second and third base with two outs. Back-to-back singles from Paige Murphy and Johnkyria Alston brought both runners around to score to earn the final score of 6-4.

Markowski finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate.