Eastern Illinois softball left eight runners on as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville broke Eastern’s 10-game Ohio Valley Conference winning streak 3-1 at Williams Field on Saturday afternoon.

Eastern (26-18, 17-4) had more hits than SIUE (26-18, 16-5) but could not capitalize as Eastern left eight runners on base. Head coach Dan Paulson said the hits they got were not timely.

“Yeah, we left a lot of runners on base,” Paulson said. “You’re either winning or you’re learning. So, we’re going to learn.”

SIUE started the game fast as the first three batters all got on base. However, SIUE got caught stealing twice by sophomore catcher Sophia Olman which limited the scoring to only one run.

Sophomore pitcher McKenzie Oslanzi said she knew her fielders had her back, but she was not perfect herself.

“Stuff happens,” Oslanzi said. “You can’t always be perfect, and they’re a good hitting team, so hats off to them for getting ahead like that. But that just lets us learn from experience.”

SIUE continued the scoring as senior infielder Kaylynn Salyars hit a leadoff first pitch home run in the third inning.

Eastern scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning as senior outfielder Abbey Crain hit a shallow ball to left field which scored one run. However, senior outfielder Sophie Cerveny got called out at home plate which ended the inning.

Salyars finished the scoring for SIUE as she hit an RBI double in the fifth.

No other scoring occurred as SIUE kept the lead to beat Eastern.

Eastern was also celebrating its senior day.

“Yeah, it’s definitely bittersweet,” Cerveny said. “It’s a great series to end on. It’s going to be good competition and high energy all weekend, so just really exciting.”

Eastern honored Crain, Cerveny and senior infielder Briana Gonzalez after the game.

All three seniors were brought out with their parents and given gifts to them from their team. Gonzalez, who recently lost her dad, was with her mom and two uncles while she carried a photo of her dad.

“Yeah, I mean obviously I wish my dad was here, but I know that he’s always with me now and he’s watching me from above and cheering me on and he has the absolute best seat in heaven,” Gonzalez said. “It was just such a blessing that my family could come, my aunt and uncles and they surprised me so that was really cool.”

All three seniors were able to finish the game with hits even though Eastern ultimately lost the game.

“I mean, I guess I wasn’t really trying to think about it too much,” Cerveny said. “I was just trying to do what I could to battle at the plate, especially down with two strikes and I think every at bat. So, I was just trying to put the bat on the ball, and it ended up working out in my favor.”

Eastern still has a chance to win the regular season championship this weekend, but the path is a little trickier.

With Southeast Missouri State also winning its game, Eastern needs to win its double header tomorrow and SEMO to lose its double header to win the regular season championship this weekend.

Eastern still has one more weekend to win the regular season, but SIUE is looking to jump into first place after this weekend.

“So hopefully we’re going to bounce back tomorrow,” Crain said. “Sweep the series and still be in first place for the conference.”

Eastern starts its double header tomorrow against SIUE at 12 p.m. at Williams Field.

Patrick Schmitz can be reached at 581-2812 or at pfschmitz@eiu.edu.