Box Score (HTML | PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team moved into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference as the Eagles took advantage of six Eastern Illinois errors en route to a 7-3 victory over the Panthers Saturday at University Field. The Eagles swept the Panthers to improve to 8-2 in the league.
The Eagles won their 10th game in 12 tries, upping their overall record to 17-13. The victory was also the ninth straight for MSU over EIU. The Panthers fell to 15-14 and 7-3 in the OVC.
On an extremely blustery day in Morehead, both teams jumped out the gate fast. The Panthers scored three runs in the top of the first, highlighted by Hailie Hanna’s two-run homer. But, MSU capitalized on two EIU errors in the bottom of the first, scoring six runs off just one hit.
MSU starter Alex Gjevre tossed the complete game, picking up her seventh consecutive win. She allowed three hits in the first inning but then gave up only three more in the final six. She also had three strikeouts. The first inning did put a stop to her streak of 23 straight innings without allowing an earned run, but the senior from Billings, Mont., is now 7-0 in OVC games.
Eastern Illinois pitcher Amber May (9-9) took the loss despite giving up just four hits and collecting four strikeouts.
The Panthers got an RBI single from Kiley Holtz to start their three-run first. Hanna then lifted an opposite field two run homer over the fence in right field to stake the Panthers to the 3-0 lead.
The Eagles started off with Elizabeth Wagner reaching on the first walks surrendered by May. Kayla Brill grounded to third, but the throw trying to gun down Wagner at second was muffed for the first error. After Rebecca Butler drew a walk, Amber Riddle was hit by a May pitch to plate Wagner. Two batters later, Bethany Ellis drove a ball to short stop. The throw came home, but Brill beat it to make it a 3-2 Panther lead.
Kayla Ashbrook delivered a two-run single up the middle which scored Riddle and Butler to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead. Anna Sommer laid down a bunt a batter later, but the throw at first was also muffed, allowing Ashbrook and Ellis to score the fifth and sixth runs.
MSU added the seventh run in the fourth. Wagner was hit by a pitch and then moved to third when a pickoff attempt sailed over first base. The ball was also misplayed in right field, allowing Wagner the opportunity to head all the way to third base. She then scored when Hanna misfired on a throw down to second base on a steal attempt by pinch runner Sam Sparks.
The Panthers had at least one runner in scoring position in three other innings besides the first, but they ended up with six runners left on base.
Brill and Ashbrook had two hits each, while Hanna had a double in addition to her home run for the Panthers.
Morehead State hosts Marshall for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 7 at 3 p.m.
