In the Ohio Valley Conference weekend series the Eastern softball team played against Tennessee Martin, and senior right fielder Denee’ Menzione stepped up, despite three loses.

The senior leader was 4-for-6, including two home runs, two RBIs, three walks and two runs. Menzione’s three runs matched the combined total for the rest of the Panthers.

In Saturday’s two games, Menzione accounted for the only Panther runs that day, blasting two solo home runs to bring her season total to seven.

“Denee’ showed great leadership (this weekend),” head coach Kim Schuette said.

In the series’ closest game, Menzione was 0-for-1 but was walked twice. Schuette said numbers are deceiving.

“She was 0-for-1 but walked, so she’s a hard out and they pitched around her,” Schuette said.

In fact, one time Menzione walked, she scored a run.

In Saturday’s games, Menzione was 4-for-5, solidifying herself as a big bat in the No. 3 slot, where she batted the whole series.

Improving in heated season finale

Eastern was beaten a combined 7-2 Saturday in the first two games of its OVC series against top-ranked Tennessee Martin (35-7, 14-3 OVC).

While on the losing path, the Panthers were outplayed in the batter’s box, losing the hitting battle 14-9 to Tennessee Martin.

However, Sunday’s game showed a much better Eastern squad, according to Schuette.

“We were much better today (Sunday),” Schuette said. “We were going out there and hitting the ball. We are starting to get our confidence back.”

In Sunday’s game, the Panthers nearly matched their two-game total from Saturday, spreading eight hits, compared to nine from the Skyhawks.

May does what she has to do

Both Schuette and junior pitcher Amber May agree May had an OK weekend in the pitcher’s circle, Schuette said.

May started Saturday’s first doubleheader game against Tennessee Martin, pitching six innings, giving up six hits and three runs.

Two second-inning solo home runs put the Panthers in a hole, eventually leading to a Skyhawks win.

Sunday, May pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs, including the walk-off three-run home run winning the game for the Skyhawks.

“She did OK,” Schuette said. “Her defense made some big plays for her.”

OVC leader separates from Eastern

Before the three-game series against the Skyhawks, Eastern (20-21, 10-7 OVC) was one game behind the Skyhawks, who are the OVC’s leading team.

By being swept, the Panthers have fallen four games back and will try to fight back to the top with just three OVC series left this season and a non-conference game against Indiana State.

Morehead State (23-16, 13-4 OVC), who holds a tiebreaker over Eastern, is currently in second place, with Jacksonville State in third place – a half game ahead of the Panthers.

By defeating Jacksonville State (23-16, 10-6 OVC) early in the season, the Panthers would potentially hold a tiebreaker over the Gamecocks if they were tied at season’s end.

Thursday, the Panthers will take to the road against Indiana State. The game is slated to start at 3 p.m. in Terre Haute, Ind.

After the Indiana State non-conference game, the rest of the season will be all business as the Panthers will have three straight, three-game series against OVC opponents to end the season.

The Panthers will be playing Austin Peay, Tennessee State and Murray State. The Peay and Murray State series will be at home, at Williams Field.

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

Junior Amber May prepares to pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky University April 10 at Williams Field.(Danny Damiani/The Daily Eastern News)

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