Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky lost both games of a conference doubleheader to Eastern Illinois Saturday at Gertrude Hood Field. The Colonels (10-16, 1-5 OVC) lost the first game 5-0. The Panthers (19-11, 6-3 OVC) won the second game 13-7.

In the first game, EIU scored in each of the first three innings and then cruised to the shutout victory. Denee’ Menzione’s two-run home run to right-center staked the visitors to an early 2-0 lead. Hailee Hanna led off the second inning with a solo shot for a 3-0 lead. Menzione added an RBI single in the third.

Amber May (13-7) went the distance for the Panthers and earned the win. The sophomore allowed one hit, walked six and struck out one. EKU’s Stacye Toups (4-7) suffered the loss after giving up three runs in only one-plus innings of work.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Colonels jumped on top first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Diane Gallagher scored on a single by Jena Handley. Cassi Gibson scored on an EIU throwing error. However, the Panthers tied the game with two of their own in the top half of the second. Hanna drove in one with a single to left-center. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Melinda Jackson tied the score at 2-2.

Eastern Illinois took the lead in the third by working the suicide squeeze to perfection. Kiley Holtz laid down the bunt and Angela Danca scored the go-ahead run. The Panthers added five more runs before the inning was over. EIU platted two runs on an EKU error and Megan Nelson capped the big inning with a two-run single up the middle.

The Colonels got two of the runs back in the bottom of the third but would never get any closer. Eastern Illinois scored five more in the fourth, including a grand slam by Hayley Pieper, to go in front 13-4.

May (14-7) earned the win in the second game as well, after tossing four innings of relief. She allowed two runs and one walk while striking out four. Holtz and Hanna each finished 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Freshman Brittany Mockbee (1-7) started for EKU and suffered the loss after giving up five runs on six hits in two and one-third innings. Senior Kalyn Fox tossed three and one-third innings of scoreless relief. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

The Colonels and Panthers will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at Gertrude Hood Field. The game will begin at 1 p.m.