Indiana State Beats Bradley, EIU Wins

DES MOINES, Iowa – Bradley jumped out to a 3-0 lead over #5 seed Indiana State in the opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Buel Field, but Indiana State used a three-run fifth to rally for a 4-3 victory over the Braves Thursday afternoon.

Bradley stranded nine runners in the setback, including three in scoring position, as the Braves and Sycamores played their third one-run game of the season.

Bradley (20-30 overall) opened the scoring in the top of the second with a two-out rally.  Freshman Vicki Zaluske got things started with a two-out walk and came all the way around to score from first on a double in the left field corner by Megan Mahaffy.  Brooklyn Bane, who went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, drove in Mahaffy from second with a slap single down the left field line and senior Elizabeth Leonard ripped a run-scoring single to center to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore Allison Apke (Teutopolis graduate) and freshman Stacia Seeton both had singles to open the top of the third for the Braves.  A pair of fielder’s choices and a groundout ended the Bradley threat, however, as Bradley left a pair on base.

Indiana State (26-27 overall) answered with a run in bottom of the third to cut the advantage to 3-1.  Leslie Sims had a one-out single and stole second for her second steal of the contest on a Bailey Martin strikeout for the second out of the inning.  Mallory Marsicek drove in Sims from second with a single through the left side of the field to get the Sycamores on the scoreboard.

Bradley would leave two more on base in the top of the fourth, getting a two-out Leonard walk and Maria Schroeder only to come up empty.

Sophomore Emma Jackson sat Indiana State down in order in the bottom of the fourth, but got into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth.  After hitting the leadoff hitter in the fifth, Jackson got a popout and strikeout for the first two outs of the frame, before a single put two runners on and a BU error which would have ended the inning, allowed a run to cross.  Shaye Barton lined a comebacker off of Jackson to drive in another run and Mann followed with another RBI single right back up the middle to put Indiana State in front 4-3.   

Indiana State turned a double play in the fifth and the Braves left a runner on first in each of the final three frames as the Sycamores advanced to Thursday’s 11 a.m. second round matchup against #4 seed Valparaiso with the 4-3 victory.

Jackson took the loss for the Braves, giving up four runs (one earned) and six hits in 4.2 innings of work.  Bane was 2-for-3 at the plate to highlight a nine-hit outing for Bradley, which also included a 2-for-4 effort for Seeton.

EIU 3, UT Martin 2

OXFORD, Ala. -- Eastern Illinois softball beat UT Martin 3-2 Thursday morning at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. in game five of the OVC Tournament. Jessica Wireman pitched a complete game for EIU retiring eight Skyhawks and only walking one batter.

The Panthers improve to 35-19 overall and the Skyhawks finish their season 25-32 overall.

EIU jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Mady Poulter and Haley Mitchell both singled to the right side of the field to record two of the Panthers seven total hits. EIU's third run of the game would come in the bottom of the third inning. Taylor Monahan and Kayla Bear advanced to third and second base following a sacrafice bunt from Mady Poulter. The Skyhawks walked the next two EIU batters. Mitchell reached on an intentional walk to fill the bases, and Mia Davis would tally an RBI as Monahan advanced home on Davis' walk.

UTM recorded their first two hits of the game in the fifth inning and got on the board with one run. Alli Fulcher led off for the Skyhawks with a single to center field. Fulcher would score for UTM later in the inning on Alicia Hansen's single through the left side of the field. UTM had another two hit and one run inning in the sixth. Lauren Myers scored the Skyhawks final run on a wild pitch, but the Panthers held on to the 3-2 win.

Poulter (2-2), Mitchell (2-2), and Jennifer Ames (1-1) finished perfect at the plate for the Panthers, while Davis finished with a game-leading two RBI.