Eastern Illinois University’s softball team secured its 30th win of the season with a 7-4 victory over Southern Indiana on April 26, sweeping the weekend series at USI Softball Field.
The Panthers’ latest win brought their overall record to 30-20 and improved their Ohio Valley Conference standing to 20-3. This marks the fourth consecutive season Eastern Illinois has reached at least 30 wins and the third straight year they have achieved at least 20 conference victories. Southern Indiana fell to a record of 13-28 overall and is now 10-14 in conference play.
Eastern Illinois started strong, scoring three runs in the first inning with contributions from Sophia Olman, Mo Hance, and Marybeth Dyson. However, Southern Indiana responded in the bottom half of the inning by capitalizing on an error that led to four unearned runs. Jadyn Tinsley and Olivia Money each recorded runs batted in before Jordan Mackey’s two-run single gave USI a brief lead.
Senior Bryanna French entered as relief pitcher for Eastern Illinois during the first inning and held Southern Indiana scoreless for six innings, earning her ninth win of the season against six losses. The Panthers regained momentum when Olman drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning to tie the game, followed by Abbi Hatton’s go-ahead single.
Lizzie Stiverson added an insurance run in the fifth inning while Alisha Frederick drove home another run in the seventh. Stiverson and Lexie Griffin both had two hits for Eastern Illinois. For Southern Indiana, Mackey and Alyssa Mumaw each recorded two hits. Anna Kemp took her eleventh loss of the year as pitcher for USI.
The outcome highlights Eastern Illinois’ consistent performance this season as they continue their pursuit within conference play.
