Eastern softball freshman utility player Abbi Hatton hit a walk-off single in the tenth inning of the first of two games as Eastern split a doubleheader against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at Williams Field Sunday, winning game one 5-4 and losing game two 10-2 in six innings. 

Hatton hit a ball up the middle as freshman outfielder Morgan Hance was able to score from first base. 

“I mean, just looking for something that I could get out of the infield,” Hatton said. “And it worked out that [Hance] was really fast, and Sophia [Olman] had just moved her over with a great bunt, so it was just really everything leading up to that with my teammates.” 

Eastern (27-19, 18-5) started the game quickly. In the second inning, Hatton started the scoring with an RBI double. Senior outfielder Sophie Cerveny continued the scoring as she got an RBI while getting thrown at first by the shortstop. 

SIUE (26-19, 16-6) would not stay down as in the next three innings the Cougars were able to score in each inning to go up 3-2 before the bottom of the fifth. 

The Panthers gained the lead back after scoring in the next two innings, forcing SIUE to score in the top of the seventh. Which they did.  

Sophomore pitcher McKenzie Oslanzi would then throw three scoreless innings and gave the opportunity for Eastern to end the game on a walk off. 

“Just being prepared, learning from the day before,” Oslanzi said. “But knowing that they’re good hitters and knowing that my stuff can be better, and I think today I succeeded in that, which made me really happy.” 

Oslanzi would finish the game with nine strikeouts, second most for her this season, through six innings pitched. 

Oslanzi would start the next game as well. However, after pitching six innings already herself and head coach Dan Paulson said fatigue was starting to set in. 

“Our first two pitchers have really done a heck of a job this year,” Paulson said. “They threw great today. But, you know, they had been through the lineup several times, and they competed. They showed up and competed, even in this last game.” 

Early in the second game, Oslanzi gave up five runs in the second inning and SIUE never looked back. 

Eastern started the game strong as in the inning before Eastern took a 2-1 lead, but that would be the only lead Eastern had for the rest of the game. 

“And the second game, it’s over, so that’s good,” Paulson said. 

Eastern stays in first place in the Ohio Valley Championship as SIUE is still one game behind going into the final weekend before the OVC tournament. 

“Win, win, win, win. We’ve got to win them all, one pitch at a time, though,” Paulson said. “We’ve got to keep locked in one pitch at a time, one out at a time, one inning at a time, one game at a time. But, I mean, we control our destiny still.” 

Eastern will play Western Illinois in its last regular season series of the year. However, The Panthers cannot look too far ahead as they go on the road to the University of Illinois on Wednesday April 30 at 5 p.m. 

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