Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Sports

Junior infielder Megan Nelson swings at the ball during the home game against Morehead State on Saturday afternoon at Williams Field. (Erin Matheny / The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern softball team felt they performed better Sunday.

But, that was about it for the Panthers when they lost 4-2 as Morehead State swept them at Williams Field. Morehead State won 3-2 and 6-2 Saturday.

The sweep leapfrogs the Eagles (29-14, 11-7 Ohio Valley Conference) past the Panthers (24-17, 8-6 Ohio Valley Conference) in the standings.

Eastern had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, but only plated one run.

The Panthers were held to two runs in each game throughout the series, thanks in part to Morehead State junior pitcher Alex Gjevre (21-7). Gjevre won all three games, striking out 10 in 16 innings and limiting the Panthers to two earned runs.

"She did a good job of keeping the ball off the plate," said freshman catcher Hailee Hanna. "We were a lot more patient at the plate, and that's why we got more base runners on."

The Panthers left seven on base in the third game.

"I thought we had the right people up," said Eastern head coach Kim Schuette. "That's the way the ball bounces sometimes. Today was a better game. We had our chances."

Eastern junior pitcher Amber May (17-12) took two of the three losses and pitched the final 6 2/3 innings of the game after Eastern senior pitcher Kathleen Jacoby (6-7) started the game.

In the nightcap Saturday, Morehead State scored four runs in the top of the seventh.

"We didn't bring our stuff today," Eastern junior second baseman Megan Nelson said. "That's not the type of team we are."

In the first game, the Eagles scored all three runs in the fifth inning. The Panthers committed two errors in that inning.

"They gave us that game," said Morehead State head coach Holly Bruder. "EIU's a good team. They can hit."

In Saturday's second game, freshman left fielder Hayley Pieper hit a home run in the third inning, which broke the single-season record for home runs (26).

Eastern returns to action against Illinois (24-14) at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Williams Field.


Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmurphy@eiu.edu.

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