Boxscore:  PDF | HTM

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Senior Sarah Coppert's two-run single helped Eastern Illinois softball defeat Sacred Heart, 2-1, in extra innings on Saturday.  The early morning contest was the Panthers' second game in the South Carolina Gamecock Invitational.

The win moved EIU to 7-0 on the season, which is the best program start since joining the Ohio Valley Conference back in 1997.

"It was an interesting and exciting game," said EIU head coach Kim Schuette.  "Our players held in there, kept their head into the game and held tough to pull out the win."

After a scoreless seven innings, the Panthers were able to avoid the upset in the top of the eighth inning as Megan Nelson singled and Angela Danca walked to load the bases, after Maria Sorrentino was placed on second base following the international rule.  That's when Sarah Coppert earned her tenth hit of the season, firing a shot up the middle to score both Nelson and Sorrentino in the process.

Eastern then held off Sacred Heart in the bottom of the inning, despite allowing one run to score off a Pioneer double.

Senior Kathleen Jacoby earned her second win of the season on the mound, striking out ten total batters, including two players each in the first, second, third, and seventh frames.  She allowed just one walk and surrendered a double bagger in the bottom of the eighth.

Thrower Amber May came in to pitch the last two outs of the game, earning consecutive strike outs in the process.

Coppert's single extended the Maple Park, Ill. native's consecutive game hitting streak to seven and her two RBI's moved her season total to eight.

The Panthers tallied three addition hits in the game.  Besides Nelson's single in the eighth, Denee' Menzione had a shot up the middle in the fourth, and Melinda Jackson's singled down the right field line in the fifth inning.

Both the Eastern and Pioneer (0-3) squads ended up stranding seven runners on the day, including a bases loaded situation for EIU in the fifth.

Eastern will next battle the host Gamecocks later in the day, with first pitch set for noon (central time).

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID