Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports

Eastern junior second baseman Megan Nelson watches home plate as she runs back to first base against Jacksonville State Sunday at Williams Field. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern softball team continued its late-season slide, losing its 11th game in a row with an 8-3 loss to Southeast Missouri Wednesday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The Panthers (24-25, 8-12) moved into a tie for sixth place with Tennessee State in the Ohio Valley Conference, the last spot for the OVC Tournament.

"It hurts every time we lose," said Eastern head coach Kim Schuette. "Somehow, you've got to get through. I think they're really hurting right now."

The Panthers got on the board first with an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Melinda Jackson in the top of the second inning.

"It's the first time in awhile we've led," Schuette said.

The Redhawks (24-19, 13-8) responded in the fourth inning with two runs, but those runs could have been prevented if not for an error, Schuette said.

Eastern took its last lead of the game thanks to a two-run home run from junior right fielder Denee' Menzione. Menzione's eighth home run of the season ties an Eastern record for home runs in a season and gives her 19 for her career.

She led the Panthers with two of the six hits.

Eastern sophomore Amber May (17-16) pitched six innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits. She walked three and struck out one.

Schuette said May was ahead in the counts, but gave up two home runs.

SEMO freshman Giana Zimmerman (15-8) pitched a complete game, allowing only six hits and three unearned runs. She walked one and struck out seven.

"We need to put the ball in play," Schuette said. "We're striking out too much. We need to take the pressure off ourselves. That's what got us our record (to start out)."

The Panthers have scored 2.45 runs a game in the 11-game losing streak. They have scored only four runs in the past four games.

"I expect a lot more," Schuette said of the offense.

The Panthers return to action against Austin Peay to close out the regular season. All three games will be played in Clarksville, Tenn., with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday and the final game at noon Sunday.

"They're trying to relax," Schuette said. "They're putting their hearts on the line. That's all you can ask as a coach."


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

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