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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Despite an early lead, the eighth-seeded Morehead State softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to the top-seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers on the opening day of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Glenn & Joan Williams Field on Wednesday.
The Panthers improve to 36-12 in 2013, while the Eagles fall to 24-24.
MSU took the early lead in its half of the second inning after sophomore third baseman Katie Raile connected on a double to center field to score junior second baseman Stephanie Etter for her 15th RBI of the season. Junior catcher McKenna Bartko plated her 10th run of the season with a sacrifice fly into right field foul territory.
EIU cleared the slate in the third inning via a single from senior outfielder Melise Brown and a sacrifice fly from junior designated player Brooke Owens. The hosts tallied the game-winner in the fourth inning off a short single from freshman outfielder Haylee Beck. A fielding error on the same play followed the hit and allowed an unearned run to score.
Senior Katie Pfost (15-13) was tagged with the loss for the Eagles after going the distance in the circle. She only surrendered one earned run off seven hits, and fanned five. Junior Stephanie Maday earned the victory in a five-inning relief effort. She held the Eagles scoreless off four hits and registered six strikeouts.
Raile led MSU at the plate with a two-hit performance and an RBI, while senior shortstop Kayla Ashbrook also connected on a pair. Five other Eagles registered hits.
The Eagles are back in action on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET time when they play the loser of the No. 4 Murray State vs. No. 5 UT Martin match-up.
