Apke's Hit Streak Extends to Career-Best Nine Games

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Sophomore Allison Apke collected four hits to extend her hit streak to a career-best nine games and both Megan Mahaffy and Kealia Wysocki homered, but Missouri State followed up an 8-7 series opening victory with a 3-0 win in the nightcap to sweep Bradley in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

In the opener, Bradley (15-22 overall, 4-8 MVC) had to try to rally in the seventh after jumping out to an early 4-0 lead.  Senior Maria Schroeder tied Bradley’s career walks record with a first inning base on balls and came around to score the day’s first run on an Apke double.  Freshman Stacia Seeton later drove in Apke from third with a sacrifice fly to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.

Junior Julie Kestas worked around a pair of Missouri State (25-15 overall, 10-4 MVC) singles in the bottom of the first and Bradley added two more runs in the top of the second.  Freshman Jillian Navarro led off the frame with a double to left center.  Junior Megan Mahaffy made it a 4-0 BU lead when she ripped her first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left.

Kaitlin Beason got Missouri State on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the second, leading off the inning with a solo homer to left to cut the Bradley lead to 4-1.

The Braves threatened to add to the lead in the top of the third after Schroeder and Apke had back-to-back singles to open the inning.  Junior Gabby Stoner drew a one-out walk to load the bases, but MSU’s Madison Hunsaker got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.

The Bears pushed four runs across in the bottom of the fourth to go in front 5-4.  A pair of one-out singles and a walk loaded the bases before a walk to Alli Alvstad drove in the first run of the frame.  Madison Jones delivered the big hit of the inning with a bases clearing double to left give Missouri State a 5-4 advantage.

A Bradley error to open the Missouri State fifth helped fuel a three-run inning for the Bears as the Braves found themselves in an 8-4 hole.  All three MSU runs in the inning were unearned.

Bradley stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the sixth and faced a four-run deficit heading to the seventh.  Apke, who reached base in five of her seven plate appearances on the day, led things off in the seventh with a walk and the Braves had two runners on when Seeton reached on an error.  With the Braves down to their last out, sophomore Kealia Wysocki delivered a pinch hit three-run homer to pull Bradley within a run at 8-7.  Hunsaker notched her ninth strikeout of the game, however, against the next batter to close out the 8-7 win for Missouri State.

Apke went 3-for-3 with a walk and RBI in the opener as she slugged her team-best ninth double of the year in addition to driving in her 36th run of the season.  Schroeder tied Bailiegh Basham’s (2012-14) career walks record with her 70th free pass in the opener.

In the nightcap, sophomore Emma Jackson returned from an injury to limit Missouri State to just four hits in a complete game effort.  Erin Griesbauer answered with a five-hit shutout for the Bears, however, as MSU took the second game 3-0.

Missouri State got the only runs it would need in the bottom of the first inning.  Hailee Vigneaux reached on an error to leadoff the game for the Bears, as MSU loaded the bases without an out on a single and walk.  Darian Frost hit a two-run single to right center and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Beason gave the Bears an early 3-0 lead.

After surrendering two hits in the first inning, Jackson settled down to limit Missouri State to just two hits in her final five innings of work.  Bradley’s first hit of the contest against Griesbauer was a one-out double by Taise Thompson in the third and the Bears erased back-to-back singles by Schroeder and Apke to open the fourth with a double play as the Braves came up empty in both frames.   

Jackson faced the minimum following a leadoff walk in the third, but the Braves were unable to advance a runner past first base following the fourth inning double play as Missouri State went on to complete the doubleheader sweep with a 3-0 win.

UT Martin Snaps EIU Win Streak

MARTIN, Tenn. -- UT Martin snapped Eastern Illinois softball's ten game win streak with a 4-3 win over the Panthers in game one of Friday's doubleheader. EIU rallied in game two handing the Skyhawks a loss beating them 5-2 to split the day's play. The Panthers improve to 28-9 overall and 7-1 in the OVC.

EIU's doubleheader at SIUE this Sunday has been cancelled due to incoming weather and a make up date and times will be announced at a later time. The Panthers will return to action next weekend with a pair of conference doubleheaders vs. Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State. First pitch vs. TTU is set for Saturday April 21 at 1 pm to start the weekend of play.

Game 1

In game one of today's action, UT Martin defeated the Panther 4-3. EIU recorded six team hits. Haley Mitchell led the Panthers with two RBI.

The Panthers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over the Skyhawks through the top of the fourth inning. Mitchell doubled down the left field line scoring Mady Poulter and Taylor Monahan. The Panthers tallied one more run in the top of the fourth inning to get them a three run advantage. Kendyl McKeough singled through the right side recording the only hit of the inning. Megan Burton reached on fielder's choice advancing McKeough to second. Kiley Pelker pinch ran for McKeough and would eventually score EIU's third run after a pair of sacrifice hits.

UT Martin rallied in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring two runs on three hits. Lauren Meyers led off for the Skyhawks hitting a triple to ignite the Skyhawks offense. Aeron Smith singled to open the bottom of the fifth inning and UTM brought in Hallie Fain to pinch run. Fain tied the game scoring off a sac bunt to second base. The Skyhawks recorded three more hits in the sixth inning and scored one more run to hand the Panthers their first conference loss of the season.

Jessica Wireman recorded the loss on the mound falling to 13-5 on the season. She retired seven batters in six innings.

Game 2

The Panthers took game two 5-2 over the Skyhawks. EIU recorded seven hits led by Mia Davis who went 3-for-4 at the plate with a team-best three RBI.

UTM got on the board first with a run in the first inning, but the Panthers scored four runs off three hits in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Mitchell doubled down the right field line recording her two RBI of the game as Kayla Bear and DeVito scored. Davis recorded her first hit of the game and two of her three RBI scoring Ashley Bartlett and Poulter.

The Panthers added another run in the top of the fifth inning to go up 5-1 over UTM. Davis grounded out to the second baseman but tallied her third RBI of the game as Bear scored unearned. The Skyhawks managed to score one more run in the fifth, but ultimately fell to the Panthers 5-2.

Michelle Rogers improved to 13-3 on the mound and recorded three strikeouts in seven innings of work.