The batting, pitching and fielding weren’t cooperating this weekend, as the Eastern softball team was swept by Morehead State and handed their first three losses in the Ohio Valley Conference.

In all three games, the Panthers had one of the three keys working to full power but the other two were on Easter vacation.

In the first of two Friday, the pitching was there – of course – with junior ace Amber May on the mound. She pitched a three-hitter! Problem was, her opposing pitcher, senior ace Alex Gjevre, pitched a one-hitter.

Congratulations to freshman designated player Abby Wood. She was the only Panther to get a hit against Morehead’s best pitcher.

You would think if I told you Amber May pitched a three-hitter, Eastern would’ve won the game – but no. And head coach Kim Schuette feels the same way.

Schuette said when May pitches like one of the best throwers in the OVC, the Panthers need to win those games.

In Friday’s second game, both Eastern’s hitting and pitching wasn’t there with freshman pitcher Natalie Wunderlich on the mound and apparently nobody at-bat.

Wunderlich received a rude “Welcome to the OVC” from the Eagles, who spread 10 hits on her, scoring six runs.

Even though Wunderlich was getting beat up, she wasn’t getting help during the other half of the innings. The Panthers were stalled with only two hits. Yet, they scored a run. Congratulations to freshman left fielder Melise Brown for scoring that run.

So when the Panthers were heading back to their hotel to rest for Saturday’s final game, they had this to think about:

In two games, we had three hits and one run . real nice.

I could stop there, but I won’t. The series’ final game was the worst.

Again, May pitched pretty well, only surrendering four hits. The offense compiled six hits for three runs. So they had a good game right? Think again.

The Panthers committed six fielding errors, a season-high, a grotesque amount of mishaps and slipups.

I can only imagine how much the Eagles’ were laughing at the Panthers in the dugout, as they were practically handed a 7-3 win.

It must not have been a pleasant ride home, especially for senior right fielder Denee’ Menzione, sophomore catcher Hailee Hanna and sophomore second baseman Jen Saucier.

Menzione flubbed up in right field for one error, while Saucier and Hanna combined for the other five for the Panthers.

The Panthers were more than swept this weekend – they were embarrassed. All of the keys to winning were up and down all weekend.

Now, Eastern needs something to even everything out.

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

Beat the heat: Tips for keeping your family safe and healthy this summer

(more…)