It almost took too long for the Panthers to finally break out of their offensive slump, but Eastern was able to get out of its offensive drought just in time to win the first game of their doubleheader by a score of 4-1 against Southeast Missouri Thursday afternoon.

The Panthers also were boosted by a strong performance from freshmen starting pitcher Andrea Darnell, who earned her second win of the season along with five losses.

She had been ineffective for the Panthers thus far, but came through with her best performance of the season. Against the Otahkians, Darnell pitched all seven innings for a complete game victory. Darnell only gave up six hits in those seven innings, which is a drastic improvement over what her hits to innings pitched ratio shows over the season. Throughout the year Darnell has thrown 34 1/3 innings, but has given up 56 hits over that time.

While Darnell kept the two teams even at one run apiece throughout much of the game, both teams were tied since the first inning, the Panther offense finally came through late in the game.

Adding three runs in the seventh inning to what had been a tie game at one, Eastern was able to break out of a slump that had lasted for the team’s 11 game losing streak. Over those 11 games, the Panthers were only able to rack up 15 runs. During those games Eastern manager Lloydene Searle was disappointed because her players couldn’t come through with the clutch hit when runners were in scoring position.

But that trend was discontinued Thursday as Eastern was able to score when it mattered and took control of the game in the last frame possible.

In the top of the seventh inning, Eastern put themselves in a familiar position as the first two hitters couldn’t reach base. But the Panthers didn’t let that phase them as they put together their rally with two outs in the inning.

Pinch hitter Cassandra North started the rally off in her only at bat of the first game by doubling. The pressure then was put on SEMO pitcher Kelly Birk who had been in the game since she replaced the starting pitcher, Jessica Hunter who had only lasted through 1/3 of an inning.

Birk broke down, and was given the loss, after North’s double even after she had pitched solidly through her first 5 1/3 innings. Kristin Lovering followed North’s lead by doubling as well, this line drive was fired to right-center field scoring North.

Two more runs were score in the inning as both Mandy Lindwall Jessica Irps both drove in runs in that frame.

The second game was not as much of a success for Eastern and their offense. SEMO struck back to nip the Panthers by a score of 3-2. Again the Panthers tried to score late in the game to pull out a victory, but SEMO was able to hold on this time behind three pitchers and the win was credited Hunter for her first of the year.

The Panthers again had a strong pitching effort as Heather Hoechen and Brittany Whelan split three innings apiece. Hoechen gave up all three SEMO runs and was saddled with the loss.

The Otahkians scored runs in the first, second and fourth innings of the game. Eastern pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth, but couldn’t score anymore and lost the game by one run.