The Eastern softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to the Ball State Cardinals by scores of 7-2 and 4-3, respectively.

The Panthers were almost able to complete a comeback in game two as they were down 2-0 from the first inning until the fifth.

Freshman Tori Johnson was involved with both runs scored in that inning.

Senior Bailey O’Dell led the inning off with a double and Johnson followed behind her with a double of her own to drive in O’Dell.

Johnson then stole third later in the inning and was able to advance home on a throwing error by Ball State’s catcher.

Johnson was happy with how she was able to contribute to the team.

“It felt great to get that opportunity to hit and then execute it for our team,” Johnson said. “It definitely felt great and boosted my confidence knowing that I can help out my team like that.

The game would go into extra innings with the score tied at two.

In extra innings, junior April Markowski was placed on second base to start the inning.

Junior Jennette Isaac advanced Markowski to third base on a bunt, but Isaac was thrown out at second base on the play.

Markowski would later score on a single by sophomore Ashlynne Paul.

The Panthers left five runners on base in the game.

The Cardinals would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth and with two outs, freshman pitcher Jessica Wireman hit the batter with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run.

Wireman pitched the entire game, allowing four runs with only two of them being earned. She also gave up five hits and struck out two.0

The loss puts her record at 5-10 on the year.

Game one was not as close as the second with the Panthers falling 7-2.

The Panthers got off to an early lead by scoring their only two runs in the first inning.

Senior Hannah Cole started the scoring when she drove in Isaac on a double through right field. Isaac had singled two batters before.

Cole later scored when freshman Andrea Roberts reached on a fielding error by the first baseman.

They left four runners total on base in the game.

The Cardinals would go on to score seven unanswered runs and win the game, 7-2.

Freshman Michelle Rogers was on the mound for the Panthers and would take the loss to drop her record to 6-9 on the year.

Rogers went three innings, giving up five runs and earning four. She struck out one and walked five.

Wireman came on in relief and would give up the final two runs. Only one of which was earned.

The Panthers will get back to playing their usual conference games on Saturday when they take on University of Tennessee Martin in Martin, Tenn.

Sean Hastings can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].