By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois used one big inning in game one and a close margin in game two to take both games in the doubleheader on Saturday against Tennessee Tech, beating the Golden Eagles 9-5 in the opener and 2-1 in the back end.
The Golden Eagles (18-20, 8-12 Ohio Valley Conference) conclude the series on Sunday with a 12 p.m. start time. With the losses, Tech maintains its possession of the No. 7 spot in the OVC race with UT Martin two games up at 10-10 and SIUE one game back at 7-13 with seven games remaining in the league slate.
The first four innings of game one saw the Golden Eagles knotted at 2-2, but the host Panthers broke the game wide open with a seven-run inning in the bottom of the fifth, collecting a trio of two-run singles and one run-scoring base knock back to the circle.
Tech scored first as Sydney Kirby drew a bases-loaded walk, but EIU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run from Jadin Justman.
After the Panthers struck for its damage in the fifth, Tech avoided the run-rule, adding a single run in the sixth as Ella Bishop scored from third on a passed ball, then scored twice in the top of the seventh as Carmen Betts drove in Mac Fitzgerald with a triple along the right field line, then Kirby's grounder to first brought Betts home.
Fitzgerald and Bishop each collected three hits in the game out of Tech's final tally of 10.
Lennon Spicer took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three. The Panthers scored three more on reliever Emily York on three hits over 1 2/3 innings, striking out one.
Panther freshman pitcher McKenzie Oslanzi earned the win, allowing five runs – four earned – on 10 hits, walking three and striking out one.
Peyton Wagner took the tough-luck loss in game two, allowing two runs – one earned – on seven hits, walking two and striking out two. Olivia Price held Tech hitless until the fifth inning and scoreless until the seventh, walking one and striking out three as she allowed a single run on three hits for the win.
Fitzgerald, Kirby and Sofia Carroll had Tech's three hits in the contest with Kirby collecting a double.
The game was scoreless through the first three innings until Marama Makea hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. The Panthers expanded the lead as Oslanzi hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kendall Grover.
Tech scored its lone run in the top of the sixth as Kirby's double to left center brought Fitzgerald home.
