Bradley Drops Game to Austin Peay, EIU Wins

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Published on March 14 2018 6:21 am
Last Updated on March 14 2018 6:22 am

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior Julie Kestas took a no hitter into the fifth and a shutout into the sixth, but the Braves couldn’t get to Austin Peay starter Morgan Rackel as the Braves fell 2-0 to the Governors Tuesday afternoon at Cheryl Holt Field.

Kestas was nearly perfect through the first four innings, allowing just one base runner on a one-out error in the first, and faced the minimum through four innings.  A double play to end the bottom of the first inning erased the only Austin Peay batter to reach base in the opening four frames.

Junior Gabby Stoner went 2-for-3 on the day, tallying two of Bradley’s four hits on the afternoon and led off the contest with a single.  Austin Peay (11-7 overall) turned a double play of its own, however, to end the inning.

Bradley (10-12 overall) stranded a runner at second in the second after Kealia Wysocki was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Stoner had a two-out single in the third, but was unable to come around to score.

Sophomore Brooklyn Bane led off the Bradley half of the fifth with a single and moved all the way to third on a stolen base and Austin Peay error on the play.  Rackel, who struck out 10 for the Governors, fanned the next three batters to keep the Braves off the scoreboard.

Rackel broke up the no-hit bid for Kestas with a bunt single to open the bottom of the fifth.  Kestas would settle down to get the first out on a sacrifice bunt and struck out the next two hitters as the teams went to the sixth scoreless.

Bradley had one of its best scoring chances in the top of the sixth with senior Maria Schroeder starting a two-out rally with a double to left as she extended her hit streak to 14 games.  Wysocki drew a four-pitch walk to put a pair of runners on, but Rackel got the final out of the frame on a fielder’s choice.

A leadoff double by Emily Harkleroad to start the Austin Peay half of the sixth would prove costly.  Harkleroad moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a Natalie Schilling infield single gave the Governors runners at the corners with only one out.  Schilling stole second, but Kestas and the Braves got the second out of the inning on a popout.  Danielle Liermann, who came into the game ranked 19th in the nation with a .490 batting average, was walked to load the bases with two outs.  Facing a 1-2 count with two outs, Rackel provided the only scoring in the game and helped her own cause with a two-run double to left center as Austin Peay grabbed a 2-0 lead.

Rackel retired Bradley in order in the seventh to close out the complete game shutout as she improved to 6-2.  Kestas was the hard-luck loser for the Braves in the pitcher’s duel, giving up just four hits and two runs, while striking out five and walking one.  The loss dropped Kestas to 2-4 on the year.

Bradley closes out a spring break trip to Tennessee Wednesday with a noon game at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.


EIU 5, Charleston Southern 4

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Eastern Illinois softball tallied 11 hits in their 5-4 win over Charleston Southern Tuesday afternoon. Haley Mitchell led the Panthers going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI.

EIU improves to 17-7 overall.

CSU struck first scoring the first run of the game in the first inning. The Panther rallied in the third inning to combine for four runs and six hits. Mady Poulter started things off for EIU with a double to left center. Mitchell then singled down the third base line to score Poulter. Mia Davis followed suit singling to right center. Kendyl McKeough stepped up to the plate with two runners on base and hit her third three-run homer this season to put the Panthers up 4-1. Megan Burton and Morgan LaMore also recorded hits for EIU in the third inning.

Mitchell homered to center field to start the seventh inning to give EIU a four run advantage. The Panthers gave up three runs in the last half inning, but CSU could not hold on to momentum ultimately falling 5-4 to EIU.

Michelle Rogers pitched five innings and recorded the win. She improved to 9-3 on the mound. Valerie Thompson pitched 1.1 innings while Jessica Wireman pitched 0.2 and picked up her fourth save of the season.

The Panthers return to action Thursday Mar. 15 at the Charleston Invitational. They will play College of Charleston at 3 pm and 5:15 pm.