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Freshman catcher Hailee Hanna watches runners at second and third base during the home game against Jacksonville State April 26 at Williams Field. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

Softball: Panthers clinch tourney berth

By: Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor

Posted: 5/4/09

Finally.

The Eastern softball team ended its 12-game losing streak with an 11-3 victory in five innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Austin Peay Saturday in Clarksville, Tenn.

The Panthers (25-27, 9-14 Ohio Valley Conference) almost ended the streak in the first game but lost 7-6 in 10 innings Saturday.

The nightcap win, however, gave the Panthers enough wins to qualify for the OVC Tournament for the third time in four years.

Sunday's game did not go Eastern's way, as it lost 6-5.

"We've had a rough couple of weeks," said Eastern junior second baseman Megan Nelson. "We're not done yet."

Eastern got some help from Southeast Missouri, which swept Tennessee State (17-29, 8-15) this weekend.

The Tigers finished eighth in the OVC. Eastern Kentucky (17-26, 8-13) lost to Tennessee Martin twice on Saturday and won on Sunday.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette said this week is not going to be easy with finals crammed in and heading to Jacksonville State for the OVC Tournament.

"This is our second chance," Schuette said. "It's going to be hard."

In the Sunday game, Austin Peay scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead. The Panthers tried to rally but only put four more runs on the board.

A big reason why the Panthers won on Saturday was the offense, which had been dormant of late.

The six runs in the first game were the most in 10 games.

In the nightcap, the Panthers had 10 hits and scored seven runs in the top of the third inning.

Eastern sophomore Melinda Jackson drove in the first runs of the inning with a bases-loaded two-RBI single to right field.

Nelson brought in a run with a single to the pitcher to keep the bases loaded.

Eastern red-shirt junior center fielder Angie Danca singled to second base to bring in another run, and the bases were still loaded.

Junior right fielder Denee' Menzione hit a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Panthers up 8-1.

Eastern sophomore third baseman Kiley Holtz added a groundout RBI.

Eastern senior pitcher Kathleen Jacoby (7-10) held the Lady Governors (15-38, 4-19 OVC) to three runs on three hits. She walked five and struck out two.

The Lady Govs scored their final two runs on wild pitches in the second game but not enough runs to extend the game.

But, they would take advantage of the wild pitches in the first game.

The Lady Govs had tied the game in the bottom of the 10th with one out and Jacoby pitching.

Austin Peay junior second baseman Brittany Williams scored the game-winning run for the Lady Govs off Jacoby's wild pitch.

In the top of the 10th, Eastern senior shortstop Sarah Coppert would score the sixth run off a fielder's choice from Melinda Jackson.

Eastern sophomore pitcher Amber May (17-17) took the loss, pitching nine innings and giving up seven runs on six hits. She walked two and struck out six.

"The first game was an emotional game," Austin Peay coach Casey Dickson told the Leaf-Chronicle. "We told them in between games that they need to keep focused and keep everything the same, but we came out right away bad, not getting the production from our pitching, or on defense or hitting."

The Panthers will now prepare for the OVC Tournament this week in Jacksonville, Ala.

They play No. 3 Morehead State in the conference tournament which begins Thursday.

The Panthers have lost five straight to the Eagles including a season sweep this season (3-2, 6-2 and 4-2 losses), and the Eagles eliminated the Panthers in the OVC Tournament last season.

The winner of the OVC Tournament earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Regional.

Final Softball Standings

Team / OVC / Overall

^*JSU / 19-2 / 38-11

*SE Missouri / 16-8 / 27-19

*Morehead State / 15-9 / 34-18

*Tennessee Martin / 13-10 / 33-21

*Tennessee Tech / 10-12 / 24-29

*Eastern Illinois / 9-14 / 25-27

E. Kentucky / 8-13 / 17-26

Tennessee State / 8-15 / 17-29

Austin Peay / 4-18 / 16-36

*Reached OVC Tournament
^OVC regular season champion and host of OVC Tournament

2009 Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship Schedule - Jacksonville, Ala.

Thursday

Game 1 - No. 3 Morehead State vs. No. 6 Eastern Illinois - 10 a.m.

Game 2 - No. 4 UT Martin vs. No. 5 Tennessee Tech - 12:30 p.m.

Game 3 - No. 2 Southeast Missouri vs. Game 1 winner - 3 p.m.

Game 4 - No. 1 Jacksonville State vs. Game 2 winner - 5:30 p.m.

Friday

Game 5 - Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser - 10 a.m.

Game 6 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser - 12:30 p.m.

Game 7 - Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 winner - 3 p.m.

Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday

Game 9 - Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner - 10 a.m.

Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner - 12:30 p.m.

(If necessary, Game 11 follows at 3:00 p.m.)

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.