Spring Break
Softball: Spark missing in home loss
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
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It wasn't there Thursday afternoon at Williams Field as the Panthers lost 2-0 to Butler.
The Panthers out hit the Bulldogs 5-3, but couldn't string any of them together. Eastern sophomore third baseman Kiley Holtz and red-shirt junior centerfielder Angie Danca led the Panthers with two hits.
"I was disappointed in our energy, or lack thereof, and our intensity in the dugouts," Schuette said. "I think we were going through the motions. Not much personality. Not much excitement. I also think we were also waiting for the big hit instead of getting runners on base every inning."
Eastern's best chance to score came in the second inning when the Panthers (19-13) had runners on second and third. Sophomore first baseman Melinda Jackson looped a single to left field, but freshman catcher Hailee Hanna was thrown out at the plate.
Holtz and Danca were the only Panthers to reach base the rest of the game.
"(Holtz) is doing well," Schuette said. "She's tough up there. She's seeing the ball well, which is the difference between her and some of the other players right now."
Schuette said Holtz is able to hit the ball no matter how hard the pitcher is throwing.
Butler freshman pitcher Breanna Fisher (6-8) kept Eastern off-balance the entire game.
"On our end, I don't think we did our job at the plate, swinging at the right pitches," Schuette said. "We were waiting until the end for something. Our hitting philosophy wasn't shown today."
Eastern sophomore pitcher Amber May (14-9) held the Bulldogs (12-16) to three hits, but they pushed two runs on the board. Eastern's defense kept them in it, despite giving up a run in the first.
Butler scored on a throwing error by Jackson when she overthrew the runner at second base, and Butler sophomore centerfielder Erin Jackson scored.
Butler added its final run of the game in the fourth inning.
"We had more hits on the scoreboard, but I thought they hit the ball better," Schuette said.
The second game of the planned doubleheader was called in the second inning because of rain.
Eastern junior second baseman Megan Nelson had reached base on a walk, but the game was called after she took first base.
The Panthers return to action this weekend. They play Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday in Edwardsville.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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