Spring Break
Softball: Final week begins on the road
Panthers try to snap losing streak
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
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The Panthers are closing out the season with four Ohio Valley Conference games and look to snap their 10-game losing streak.
That stretch to make the OVC Tournament begins at 5 p.m. today with a single game at Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
"I really don't think of it as a 10-game losing streak," said Eastern head coach Kim Schuette. "I think we're playing much better than we were."
Part of that comes from the work of Eastern sophomore pitcher Amber May. May gave up only seven runs in 20 innings of work against league-leading Jacksonville State, a squad that averages more than five runs a game.
Of those seven runs, six runs were scored off home runs.
May also had 19 strikeouts in three games.
The Panthers (24-24, 8-11 OVC) have given up only nine runs in the past three games, but they run into a Southeast Missouri team (23-19, 12-8) that has won 11 games in row, including two against Eastern Thursday at Williams Field.
Southeast Missouri won 6-2 and 11-3 in six innings.
"We're just going to stick together, keep working together to get out of it," said Eastern sophomore first baseman Melinda Jackson. "Even though were down in the slumps right now, we've got to stay together."
Jacksonville State has already won the regular season and will host the tournament. Second place Morehead State has clinched a berth along with third place Southeast Missouri and fourth place Tennessee-Martin.
Schuette doesn't want any pressure on her team, and she wants them to stay relaxed and play the game.
Two of the last five games between SEMO and Eastern have been decided by one run, with the Panthers posting a 1-1 record in those games.
But last season the Panthers lost both games at Southeast Missouri before winning the final game of the series against the Redhawks.
"We have some payback for them," Schuette said. "We've got to see what happens first, tomorrow."
After the SEMO game, Eastern concludes the regular season with a three-game series against Austin Peay Saturday and Sunday in Clarksville, Tenn.
Notes
• After Eastern's game against Southeast Missouri, the Panthers play Austin Peay, the last place team in the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Southeast Missouri and Tennessee Martin have all earned berths for the OVC Tournament.
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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