Nashville--- TSU softball battled from behind to claim a 5-2 victory over EIU in game one but came up short against the Panthers, 3-2, in the second game of the double-header.
Tennessee State now holds a record of 7-14, 1-2 OVC while Eastern Illinois moves to 6-11, 2-1 OVC.
A lead off walk, stolen base and two sacrifice bunts led to Eastern Illinois capturing a 1-0 lead early in the first inning. The Panthers held on to the lead until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Tigers posted two runs behind one hit and two EIU errors.
In the bottom of the sixth and with one out, Bridget Metzger reached on a throwing error before Royesha Goodman doubled to move her over to third. A single by Amanda Vaught would bring Metzger home and give the Tigers a 3-1 lead. TSU would go on to score two more runs following singles from Nicole Vincent and Jill Gardner before the inning ended.
EIU's Denee' Menzione hit a solo homerun in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-2 but that would be as close as the Panthers would get. Vaught picked up her seventh win of the season while Jennifer Gregory led TSU with two RBI's.
Eastern Illinois scored two quick runs off starting pitcher Caitlin Eaton to capture a 2-0 lead. Amanda Vaught came in to relieve Eaton in the first inning. EIU posted another run in the fifth inning to go up 3-0 before a lead off single by Chelsea Brown sparked a TSU run that cut the deficit down to 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jalisa Bradley reached on a throwing error and advanced to second to lead of the inning. Vincent followed that with a single through the left side to move Bradley over to third.
With only one out, runners on second and third and the Tigers threatening to score, Gregory grounded out to third and Vincent and Bradley were caught in run downs. Bradley was eventually thrown out at the plate for the third out of the inning.
Tennessee State tallied 11 hits in the game as Caitlin Eaton recorded the loss.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, March 19 at Middle Tennessee State University. The first game of the double-header is scheduled for 2 p.m.
