Boxscore (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Top-seeded Eastern Illinois softball earned a nice come-from-behind, 3-2, victory over #8-Morehead State in Ohio Valley Conference Championship third game action on Wednesday (May 8) afternoon.

After trailing by an early 2-0 score, the Panthers scored three unanswered to retake the lead while junior All-OVC honoree Stephanie Maday earned a key win in five innings of relief to pace EIU to 36-12 overall.

Eastern will advance to tomorrow's 3 p.m. winner's bracket quarterfinal versus the #4-Murray State, who topped #5-UT Martin, 2-1, in the eight-inning nightcap.

Freshman Haylee Beck led all Panthers with a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate, which included nailing the game-winning RBI shot to third base that plated pinchrunner Jennette Isaac from second in the fourth inning.

Senior Melise Brown followed with her own fine 2-for-3 plate performance, as she added her own RBI double to score Beck in the third inning, which she would eventually score herself thanks to a key sac fly RBI by junior Carly Willert.

Juniors Hannah Cole, Brooke Owens and Ashleigh Westover also chipped in hits in the win, while Cole and Beck both scampered for stolen bases.

OVC 'Pitcher of the Year' Hanna Mennenga earned the start but found herself in trouble as she allowed two Morehead State (24-24) runs in the top of the second.  She would eventually be pulled in favor of Maday in the third inning.

Maday would proceed to register six strikeouts, including a pair of crucial Ks in the fourth as the Eagles threatened to retake the lead yet stranded a pair of runners. With the win she improved her season mark to 13-5 overall, while holding Morehead State to just four hits with zero walks.

For the game, Morehead State left runners on base as compared to six for the Panthers.  The Eagles did out-hit the Panthers, eight-to-seven, however, while two MSU errors also proved costly.

The Eagles drop to the loser's bracket of the four-day tourney and will face #5-UTM at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Katie Raile and Kayla Ashbrook registered respective 2-for-3 and 2-for-4 plate performances, while pitcher Katie Pfost retired five Panthers via strikes to pace the Eagle squad in the loss.

In earlier action, #3-Eastern Kentucky was upset by #6-Jacksonville, 5-3 to open tourney play, while #2-SIU Edwardsville held on to defeat #7-Tennessee Tech, 3-2.

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