Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky beat Eastern Illinois 4-1 on Sunday to avoid a three game sweep. The Colonels (11-16, 2-5 OVC) scored four runs in the third inning after falling behind 1-0. The Panthers (19-12, 6-4 OVC) loaded the bases in the seventh but failed to score.

With temperatures falling into the high 30s, a wind chill in the 20s and wind gusts over 20 MPH, Sunday’s weather was not ideal for softball.

Eastern Illinois got on the board in the top of the third on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Coppert that scored Hayley Pieper.

EKU answered in its half of the third. With two outs, Diane Gallagher got the rally going with a double to left-center. Cassi Gibson followed with a single up the middle to score the tying run. A third straight Colonel hit, this time a two-run home run over the left-center field fence by Shyenne Hussey made it a 3-1 game. Two batters later, Amber Lenz capped the four-run inning with an RBI triple to right-center.

The Panthers brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the top of the seventh. After an infield pop-up, a walk loaded the bases, but a line drive ended the game.

Chelsea Butler (3-1) went the distance and earned the win for EKU. The senior allowed one run on five hits, walked three and struck out six. Offensively, six different Colonels registered one hit.

After picking up the win in both games on Saturday, EIU’s Amber May (14-8) suffered the loss on Sunday. She allowed four runs in six innings, walked one and struck out five.

After completing an 11-game home stand, the Colonels will play their next five games on the road, beginning with a single game at Morehead State on Wednesday. The two teams split a doubleheader earlier in the season. The series-deciding game will get under way at 3 p.m.