April 5, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Samford University softball team suffered a pair of hard-fought Ohio Valley Conference losses to the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Saturday, as the Bulldogs were defeated by scores of 3-1 and 4-3 at Williams Field.

With the setbacks, Samford (12-22, 4-9 OVC) had its losing streak extended to five-straight games. The Bulldogs have also been defeated in four-consecutive OVC matchups.

Samford has played in a number of close games this season.

Including Saturday's pair of OVC nail-biters, a total of 19 of the Bulldogs' 34 contests this year have been decided by two runs or less. Samford owns a 5-8 record in one-run games and a 3-3 mark in contests decided by two runs.

With Saturday's doubleheader sweep, Eastern Illinois (12-15, 7-3 OVC) remained undefeated at home this season.

The Panthers improved to 5-0 when playing at Williams Field and extended their home winning streak against OVC opponents to four straight games. Eastern Illinois has won four of its previous six contests and entered Saturday's slate as the third-place team in the conference.

In game one, the Panthers used a stellar pitching performance from Karyn Mackie (6-6) to earn a 3-1 victory.

Eastern Illinois scored a run in the bottom of the third inning and added a pair of scores in the fifth frame to take a 3-0 lead. Mackie, who is also one of the Panthers' top hitters, paced her team with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Samford out-hit Eastern Illinois in game one and finished with several players turning in stellar offensive outings.

The Bulldogs tallied seven hits in the opener and were led by starting pitcher Amanda Barrs (2-6). Barrs went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in Samford's lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Shortstop Amanda Jordan was also 2-for-3, while sophomore Whitney Terry came off the bench to go a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.

Samford committed four costly errors in game one and none of Eastern Illinois' three runs were earned.

In game two, the Panthers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The score remained the same until the top of the fourth frame when the Bulldogs busted out for three runs on three hits.

All three of Samford's runs in the fourth inning were scored with two outs.

The Bulldogs' rally was ignited by a single to center field from Kristy Lawrence and was later highlighted by an RBI double from Terry and an RBI single from Kylie Harmon. True freshman Julie Handley also drew a key walk in the inning and later scored.

Terry, the Bulldogs' sophomore catcher from San Jose, Calif., led the team with a 1-for-1 performance in the game. She also tallied two RBI and a run scored. All four of Samford's hits were registered in the fourth inning.

After Eastern Illinois added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, the teams entered the sixth frame tied at 3-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Panthers' Mackie led off the frame and was hit by a pitch to reach first base. She then advanced to second on a crucial Samford error and later scored as Denee' Menzione singled up the middle. The game-winning run gave Eastern Illinois its decisive 4-3 lead.

The Panthers' Kathleen Jacoby (3-5) picked up the victory in the circle. The Bulldogs' Margaret Carter (3-6) was saddled with the tough-luck loss.

The Samford University softball team will conclude its three-game series against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Sunday at noon in Charleston, Ill.

Live Stats - Game Three