Box Score Box Score

ATLANTA – Three costly errors led to three Eastern Illinois runs in the second inning helping the Panthers defeat the IUPUI softball team, 3-0, Saturday afternoon in the Jags second game of the Georgia State Tournament.

The loss evened IUPUI’s record at 3-3, while Eastern Illinois improved to 1-0.

IUPUI struggled getting runners into scoring position all game and every time the Jaguars got a runner on base, that runner was either eliminated on a fielder’s choice or a double play.

Both teams failed the score in the opening frame until the Panthers put three runs on the board in the second. Three singles mixed in with a strike out loaded the bases for EIU with one out. An error by the catcher allowed two runs to cross home, placing the Panthers in front, 2-0. Two batters later, the third and final run of the inning scored on an error from the second baseman upping the EIU lead to 3-0.

The Jaguars got their lead-off runner on base in the third and fourth innings and picked up a two-out single from Kelsey Rupert
in the sixth, but that would be all the hits the Jags would pick up.

Nikki Thomas went all seven innings for IUPUI in the circle giving up six hits and five walks while striking out seven. All three runs given up by Thomas were unearned.

However, EIU’s Stephanie Maday gave up just three hits and one walk, while striking out seven to pick up the win for the Panthers.

The final game on Saturday between Eastern Illinois and Georgia State on Saturday was postponed due to rain and will be made up on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. With that postponement, the IUPUI game against Georgia State has been pushed back to 2:30 p.m.