GAME 1 | Eastern Illinois 5, Morehead State 4
MOREHEAD, Ky. --Â Morehead State did everything but win in Saturday's game one of the home series with Eastern Illinois as the Eagles fell 5-4 in an eight-inning matchup.
MSU scored in the first inning and never trailed until EIU scored the go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth. The Panthers were able to tie the score in the seventh after an infield pop up to the pitcher's circle fell safely to the ground, allowing the visitors to reach base and eventually tally the critical run to keep the game alive. MSU out-hit Eastern Illinois 8-7 and committed fewer errors 3-0, but the Panthers were able to pull out the victory, their 18th straight against the Eagles.
Freshman Cassiti Baroni (0-4) took the loss in the circle for Morehead State (11-24, 5-17). She pitched 1.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits. She did not record a strikeout or walk. Sophomore Jessie Begley kept the Panther bats under control through six and a third innings, surrendering three runs (all earned) on three hits, with two strikeouts and seven walks. EIU did not pick up its first hit until one out in the fifth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. With one out, senior Peyton Jordan tripled down the right-field line and came across to score the lone run of the inning on a sacdrifice bunt from freshman Kendra Lewis.
The Panthers failed to push any runs across before the Eagles built on their lead in the fourth inning. Morehead State pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of freshman Trinity Spear that brought home sophomore Taikibrea Campbell and junior Samantha Cervantes, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Eagles. Campbell singled and Cervantes reached on an error.
Morehead State's lead had evaporated by the time the eighth inning came around and turned into a 5-3 Eastern Illinois advantage, when the Eagles cut that deficit to 5-4. The Eagles notched a run on junior Ilencia Lightbody's leadoff home run over the left-field fence off senior Olivia Price. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
EIU had chances to get on the scoreboard throughout the game, but left five runners stranded over the first four innings, before ending the game with a total of seven. MSU also had multiple chances to build on its lead, but also left seven runners stranded.
The Eagles chased starter McKenzie Ozlanzi after six innings, despite another outstanding performance by the freshman hurler, who finished allowing seven hits, three runs, one earned run, with six strikeouts and a walk. Senior Olivia Price picked up the win after two innings of relief work. She yielded one (earned) run on one hit, with two strikeouts and no walks.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Eagles out-hit the Panthers at an 8-7 clip.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 36 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out two.
» Lightbody led the Eagles at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Eastern Illinois was led offensively by junior Briana Gonzalez, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
» Freshman McKenzie Oslanzi led the Panthers pitching staff, throwing six innings of three-run ball.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
