The women’s softball team was defeated by the Southern Illinois Salukis in Carbondale by a final score of 10–2 in five innings. Since SIU-C was up by eight after five innings, the game was called due to the mercy rule. Eastern was not as sharp as they had been in the past couple weeks, giving up six unearned runs in the game.

The Panthers got things going offensively early on in the game when Kaylie Pruett scored on a fielder’s choice in the second inning to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. The lead was only temporary, though, as the Salukis responded with three runs in the bottom of the third. The Salukis were able to score their runs with three singles and a walk.

Things would just get worse for Eastern from this point on, as the Salukis used a pair of Panther errors to tack on six unearned runs in the fourth inning, giving them a 9-1 lead. Both teams would go on to score another run in the fifth inning, ending the game with a 10-2 final score.

Sophomore Hanna Mennenga picked up the loss for the Panthers and is now 10-6 for the season. She pitched 3.2 innings while giving up seven hits and three walks, resulting in eight Saluki runs (three earned).

The Panther offense was outhit by the Salukis by a total of 11-6. Freshman shortstop Bailey O’Dell and sophomore second baseman Carly Willert were both one-for-three in the game. Willert also scored a run. Hailee Hanna had a team-high two hits in the contest, going two-for-two at the plate. Sophomore Ashleigh Westover and senior Maria Sorrentino were both one-for-two in the loss. Westover had the lone RBI for Eastern in the game.

Eastern now has an overall record of 23-18.

The Panthers next games will take place Saturday at Williams Field against conference rival Eastern Kentucky with the first pitch taking place at 1 p.m. The conference foes will play a doubleheader on Saturday, and then play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Eastern will likely send Stephanie Maday and Hanna Mennenga to the mound for Saturday’s game. Maday will enter play with a record of 13-9 and an ERA sitting at 1.91. Maday has recorded a team-best 149 strikeouts in 157.2 innings pitched.

Mennenga has also been very good for the Panthers. She has a record of 10-6 on the mound with a 2.77 ERA in 93.2 innings pitched.

Eastern Kentucky, who will enter Saturday’s game with an overall record of 20-24 and a conference record of 11-9, will likely send its freshman pitching rotation consisting of Leanna Pittsenbarger and Shaylon Robb to the mound. Pittsenbarger is the ace of the EKU staff. For the season, she has a record of 10-11 with an ERA of 3.01 in 160.2 innings. Robb is 8-10 with a 5.27 ERA in 86.1 innings.

Erik Jensen can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].