GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Senior Rebecca Butler extended the nation's longest current hitting streak in Division I softball to 28 games and also set the Morehead State career record for games played while tying the Eagles' single season home run record, but the Eagles dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Eastern Illinois Saturday.
In the opener, MSU pitcher Ashley Imperial kept pace with EIU's OVC Pitcher of the Year prime candidate Amber May for 10 innings before the Panthers broke through with a walk-off RBI double to win 2-1 in the 11th inning. In the second game, Butler hit her 10th home run of the year, but that was MSU's lone run in a 7-1 setback. She played in her 209th and 210th career games today to break the previous career mark of 209.
The Panthers (38-10/25-4), who had already secured the OVC's top spot for the tournament next week, clinched the regular season title outright with the game one victory. MSU (19-35/10-18) was unfortunately eliminated from contention for a berth in the six-team tournament.
In the first game, both Imperial and May had their share of tight situations but both kept getting their teams out of potential run-scoring opportunities for the other squad time and time again. Imperial (7-16)tossed her longest outing of the year, throwing 10.1 innings and only allowing six hits and one earned run to the top team in the league. She also coaxed 23 ground outs, including nine to herself to set a school record for pitcher assists in one game. May (21-4) struck out nine Eagle hitters, but the MSU offense also got seven hits off the league's toughest hurler.
MSU got on the board first with a run in the fourth. Kayla Brill added to her school record for getting hit by pitches with her 21st free pass on a plunk this year. Butler followed with a double deep into the right centerfield area to plate Brill.
EIU tied the game in the sixth when leadoff hitter Melise Brown, who had singled, scored on a infield fielding error.
MSU had runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth frames but May got out of both unscathed. EIU had two runners on with no outs in the eighth and a runner as far as second in the ninth, but Imperial got ground outs to end both threats.
Contreversary ensued in the 10th. Beginning in the 10th in OVC games, the tiebreaker rule is supposed to take effect, but MSU did not get to place its first runner on second in the top of the 10th and the inning went on as normal. May set down the Eagles in order. EIU tried to place its runner on second in the bottom of the inning, stating that MSU had missed its opportunity, but after much discussion, the officials did not allow the hosts a situation MSU was not given and the inning started with no one on. The Panthers got their first two batters on base, but Imperial shut down the scoring opportunity with three ground balls.
In the 11th, Kayla Ashbrook advanced to third after beginning the inning on second, but May got a pair of fly outs to end the inning. The Panthers tried to advance their runner to third starting the 11th, but Butler made a nice play on a bunt and threw out Haley Pieper at third base. However, Ashleigh Westover then cracked a double into left center field, and Morgan Biel raced around from first to score the winning run.
Elizabeth Wagner and Amber Riddle each had two hits to lead MSU.
The second game saw the Panthers break open a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 advantage with a four-run fifth. MSU was limited to just four total hits by pitcher Stephanie Maday, who also struck out nine in picking up win number 14 for herself. Kelcey McMurray allowed six runs in 4.1 innings and was tagged with the loss to fall to 10-13.
The Panthers led 2-0 after four innings before Butler led off the top of the fifth with a solo homer to center field - her 10th of the year to tie the record and the 30th of her career.
EIU struck for four runs of four hits and a couple of Eagle errors to put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Biel and Brown had two hits each as the Panthers had nine for the game.
MSU will play its final game of the 2011 season against EIU on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. EDT.
