The Eastern softball team couldn’t figure out Morehead State on Sunday.

The Panthers lost 4-0 in Morehead, Ky., and were shutout for the first time since a 1-0 loss against Samford on April 6.

The Panthers, however, did win two of three against the Eagles (30-14, 13-9 Ohio Valley Conference) and assured themselves a berth in the conference tournament.

The Panthers (19-22, 11-7) are in third place behind Eastern Kentucky (26-18, 15-9) and will play them in a critical conference series next weekend.

Morehead State sophomore pitcher Alex Gjevre (15-5) kept the Panthers off-balance Sunday. Eastern only managed two hits and struck out five times against the league’s ERA leader.

“They just flat out beat us,” said Eastern head coach Kim Schuette. “(Gjevre) kept us on our heels.”

Schuette said Gjevre had a nice curveball and screwball on Sunday.

The top two teams in the conference earn an automatic bye in the OVC Tournament, but

Schuette said the team couldn’t get wrapped in the conference standings.

Eastern junior pitcher Kathleen Jacoby (8-9) agreed and said Eastern needs to focus on one game at a time.

Jacksonville State won the conference regular season title with a 13-0 win in five innings against Austin Peay on Sunday and will host the league tournament in Jacksonville, Ala.

Saturday’s second game

Eastern 4, Morehead State 1

Eastern found a way to get past Morehead State’s strong pitching staff – which has a 1.23 team ERA – with six hits and four runs in a 4-1 victory in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Eastern freshman third baseman Kiley Holtz singled to right field with the bases loaded in the top of the third to score two Eastern runners and give Eastern a 2-1 lead.

“I know she wishes her batting average was higher,” Schuette said.

But Schuette said she was glad to see Holtz come through in the clutch.

Eastern sophomore center fielder Denee’ Menzione later added a home run in the top of the fifth to give Eastern its final score. Menzione’s home run is the seventh of the year, which is tied for second place for most home runs in a single season. She now has 11 career home runs, and is tied for third in program history. Five of her home runs have come in conference play.

Eastern senior pitcher Karyn Mackie (8-8) kept the Eagles off-balance with seven strikeouts and limited them to four hits and one run in seven innings pitched.

Saturday’s first game

Eastern 2, Morehead State 1 (10 inn.)

Jacoby wouldn’t give up as the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader stretched into extra innings, and neither would the Panthers.

Jacoby pitched a complete game and struck out six as Eastern defeated Morehead State 2-1.

Jacoby kept the Eagles under control with 19 pop outs. In her career-long outing, she walked only two batters and gave up five hits and one run.

“It’s just been a while since I’ve had that control,” Jacoby said. “I was just hitting my spots.”

Eastern sophomore Lauren Brackett scored the game-winning run thanks to a pair of sacrifice bunts.

Brackett, who was put on second base to start the 10th inning because of the international tie-breaker, reached third on a sacrifice bunt from Eastern sophomore shortstop Megan Nelson.

Eastern senior right fielder Robyn Mackie laid down a squeeze bunt, and Brackett snuck under the tag after the throw home from Morehead State sophomore pitcher Sarah Funston.

Nelson was key in the bottom of the 10th, as she threw out Morehead State senior catcher Korey Ellis as Eastern senior catcher Ally Nolte applied the tag.

“That girl was out by a mile,” Jacoby said. “I don’t know what she was thinking.”

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