MARTIN, Tenn. – Morehead State’s stay at the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference softball tournament was short-lived. After falling to Tennessee Tech in the opening round Thursday, The Eastern Illinois Panthers handed the Eagles a 9-4 defeat Friday to eliminate MSU and end its season.
The Eagles finish the 2010 season 27-24, dropping their last five to end the year. EIU, which led 8-0 after four innings, moved on in the loser’s bracket. It was the first time EIU had defeated MSU since their series in 2008. Before today, MSU had beaten the Panthers nine straight times.
Sophomore Kayla Brill was named to the 2010 OVC All-Tournament Team.
The Panthers (24-26) struck early with a solo home run via the bat of Denee Menzione in the top of the first inning. Menzione hit Sarah Funston’s third pitch over the fence in left field with two outs.
EIU blasted the game open in the second inning as leadoff hitter Melise Brown ripped a two out three-run homer to right field to make it 4-0.
Funston (12-12) allowed a leadoff double in the third inning and her day was finished. She allowed five runs on five hits in two frames.
The Panthers continued to add on to their lead. Melinda Jackson drew a bases loaded walk off Alex Gjevre to make it 5-0, and Hailie Hanna hit a grounder to short the Eagles attempted to force out the runner at home, but pinch runner Andi Morgan beat the throw for a 6-0 EIU lead. Brown then was hit by a Gjevre pitch to force in the seventh Panther run.
The Eagles threatened in the bottom of the third. Bianca Cardenas crushed Amber May’s pitch deep off the fence in left center for a double. After a strikeout, Bethany Ellis was hit by her seventh pitch of the year. Elizabeth Wagner’s grounder moved the MSU base running pair into scoring position, but May coaxed an infield pop out to end the inning.
EIU added another score in the fourth. Ashley Anderton drove a single up the middle to score Menzione, who had doubled.
MSU was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Kayla Ashbrook and Rebecca Butler both singled to start off the inning. A fielder’s choice sent Ashbrook to third, and another fielder’s choice off Archer’s bat allowed Ashbrook to score to make it 8-1.
MSU cut the deficit down again in the fifth, scoring a trifecta of runs. Wagner was on via a fielder’s choice, and Kayla Brill laced a double into right field. Ashbrook hit a seeing eye single that scooted though the right side of the infield to score both runners. On the play Ashbrook went to second base, and Butler lined a single into center to make it 8-4.
EIU got a run back in the top of the sixth. Kiley Holtz’s looper dropped just inside the right field foul line and she ended up with a double. Angie Danca then blooped a single to almost the same spot – just over Riddle’s stretch at first. It hit the line, and Holtz was able to slide in under Cardenas’ tag attempt at the plate.
Ashbrook, Cardenas and Butler had two hits apiece for MSU. EIU got three hits each from Menzione and Kiley Holtz.
The loss was the final game for 2010 seniors Gjevre, Funston, Ashley Archer, Cardenas, Ellis, Brittany Scheer and Courtney Seiler.
