The Eastern softball team couldn’t find a balanced equation this weekend as it was swept in an Ohio Valley Conference series by Morehead State in Morehead, Ky.

The Panthers lost the third and final game of the series 7-3, despite starting the game leading 3-0 after the top of the first inning.

Morehead State scored six runs in the bottom half on one hit and two errors.

“We handed it to them in the first inning,” head coach Kim Schuette said. “One hit and six runs are hard to swallow.”

The Panthers were down 4-3 at one point in the inning until one final error put them out of the game.

With two outs in the inning, a routine bunt was mishandled, scoring two runs for the Eagles’ 6-3 lead after the first.

“We stunk it up today on defense,” Schuette said.

Eastern committed a season-high six errors in the final game, which was a disappointing finish for the Panthers, who Schuette said should’ve had the upper hand.

Schuette said the bats were working in the series’ final game, but the pitching and defense weren’t there. Schuette said that was the weekend’s trend.

“Our offense won today but the pitching and our defense need to get it done,” Schuette said.

Eastern and Morehead State played a doubleheader to begin the three-game series Friday, losing both games.

In game one, junior pitcher Amber May gave up only three hits but that proved to be too many against the Eagles’ senior pitcher Alex Gjevre, who held Eastern to one hit.

“We weren’t the aggressors and needed to attack when we have a bat in our hands in games one and two,” Schuette said. “Our offense is very scary when we swing the bat.”

Eastern lost the first game 2-0 but with May’s pitching performance, Schuette said Eastern should’ve won.

“Amber threw a good game one and our offense needs to win that one,” Schuette said.

The Panthers came out into the nightcap and were blown out 6-1, having two hits in the game.

Eastern was down 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, when Morehead State exploded for five runs to make it 6-0.

Eastern freshman pitcher Natalie Wunderlich was roughed up for 10 hits and six runs as she dropped to 5-4 this season.

“We came out swinging like we were on defense and swinging not to strike out,” Schuette said.

Eastern will stick to the road as they’ll take on Saint Louis Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. in St. Louis.

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