In the most crucial times this weekend, the Eastern softball team came up with many big fielding plays.

In Sunday’s game against Tennessee Tech, senior center fielder Angie Danca made a diving stop in the outfield that stalled the Tech runner at first base.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette said Danca nabbed a sure-to-be-double or triple away from freshman third baseman Melody Christian just by diving to stop the ball’s momentum in front of her, and prevent it from bouncing.

This play turned out to be crucial, as junior second baseman Lacie Coquerille stepped up following Christian’s single and launched a double toward Danca in center, advancing Christian to third base.

At that point, the Panthers still led 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning but with two runners on and no outs, the Golden Eagles were threatening.

Eastern junior pitcher Amber May, who was named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week Monday, struck out the next batter and walked junior catcher Callie Schmidt to load the bases.

Then, on another crucial fielding play, Tennessee Tech’s junior center fielder Kaleigh Gates blooped a ball right at Eastern freshman second baseman Ally Seplak.

Seplak caught the ball for the second out and quickly noticed that Schmidt had too big of a lead off first. Seplak threw the ball to first base, getting the third – and final – out of the game.

Errors cost Golden Eagles

In Sunday’s action, a mishandled ball by Schmidt helped to score two runs as the ball got passed the catcher. After that error, the Panthers led 3-1 in the bottom of the second and would go on to win 6-3.

However, Eastern didn’t get the win so easily as Tennessee Tech had made it a game by the start of the bottom of the sixth, with the Panthers leading 4-3.

The Golden Eagles were on the comeback trail but the Eastern offense prevailed in the inning.

After senior designated player Denee’ Menzione was walked, Danca doubled left to put runners on second and third.

Then, Eastern junior first baseman forced the play that cost Tennessee Tech the game.

Melinda Jackson hit a blooper that forced Tennessee Tech junior right fielder Anna Zdorik to sprint towards the foul line in front of her. Zdorik tried to make a great catch but the ball bobbled out of her glove and onto the ground as a fair ball.

The bloop double by Jackson scored two, to make the game 6-3.

Holtz breathes sigh of relief

Hearts stopped around Williams Field Wednesday night when junior third baseman Kiley Holtz, who was named the OVC Player of the Week, hit a shot back to the face of Indiana Purdue-Indianapolis freshman pitcher Nicole Natter.

Natter misjudged the speed of the ball, forcing her to miss it with her glove and hit her in the face, causing her sunglasses to pop off.

Natter fell to the ground for an instant before getting up to try and make a play at first but she couldn’t.

Then, Natter fell back to the ground with her coaches rushing out to see her.

Recently, Holtz’s teammate sophomore outfielder Maria Sorrentino had her jaw broken when being hit by a pitch.

“I felt horrible,” Holtz said. “What happened with Maria, it made me think of that. Luckily I didn’t hit it as hard as I could have.”

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.