Eastern Illinois University’s softball team extended its winning streak to 14 games after sweeping a doubleheader against Western Illinois at Williams Field on March 28. The Panthers won the first game 3-2 and followed with a decisive 9-0 victory in the second game.
The continued success keeps Eastern Illinois at an undefeated record of 11-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, moving their overall record to 19-16. Western Illinois dropped to an overall record of 8-19 and is now 3-7 in conference play.
In the opener, both teams were locked in a pitching duel between EIU’s Rylan Gick and WIU’s Libby Spaulding. The Panthers trailed by two runs heading into the sixth inning before mounting a comeback. Chloe Wamboldt and Lizzie Stiverson started the rally with consecutive singles, followed by Abbi Hatton driving in EIU’s first run. With two outs, freshman Brooklyn Groppel delivered as a pinch hitter with a two-run single to center field, giving Eastern Illinois the lead for good.
Gick closed out her eighth win of the season by retiring WIU in order during the seventh inning, highlighted by Marybeth Dyson making a diving catch that robbed Ali Williams of extra bases. Spaulding took her eighth loss for Western Illinois despite pitching well.
In game two, Karlie McKenzie threw her second consecutive complete game shutout for EIU, allowing only one hit while striking out five batters over five innings. The Panthers’ offense broke through with four runs in the third inning and added five more in the fourth. Maddux Marshall contributed three runs batted in during her two-hit performance, including singles that drove home key runs during both rallies. Audrey Clark took her fourth loss for WIU after pitching three innings.
