Eastern Illinois University’s softball team secured a doubleheader sweep over SIUE on March 21, winning the first game 12-4 in five innings and the second game 6-5. The victories improved Eastern Illinois’ record to 14-16 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while SIUE dropped to 13-16 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
The matchup featured the league’s last two undefeated teams. In the opener, both teams scored twice in the first inning before Eastern Illinois broke out with ten runs in the second. Lexie Griffin started the rally with a solo home run, followed by key hits from Lizzie Stiverson, Abbi Hatton, and Sophia Olman, who hit a grand slam. Chloe Wamboldt added a two-run single to cap off the inning. Pitcher Rylan Gick earned her second straight complete game win in conference play, striking out seven batters and allowing four hits.
Olman led Eastern Illinois offensively with two hits and five runs batted in. Four other Panthers—Hatton, Griffin, Wamboldt, and Marybeth Dyson—also recorded multiple hits. SIUE’s scoring included a double steal in the third inning and a solo home run by Harley Limberger in the fifth.
In game two, SIUE took an early lead with runs from Ashley Duran and Abby Harvell but Eastern Illinois rallied late. Alisha Frederick drove home two runs with a single before teaming up with Stiverson for a double steal that tied the score at three apiece. Maddux Marshall gave EIU its first lead of the nightcap with an RBI single in the sixth inning; insurance runs came from Olman and Brooklyn Groppel in the seventh.
Bryanna French picked up her sixth win of the season for EIU while Gick returned to earn a save. Mia Volpert took the loss for SIUE. All nine Panther hits came from different players during game two.
The sweep keeps Eastern Illinois atop their conference standings as they continue their season.
