GAME 42: Tennessee State 2, Eastern Illinois 0
RECORDS: TSU (9-33, 5-26), Eastern Illinois (25-19, 16-14)
FIELD: Williams Field
LOCATION: Charleston, Ill.
WEATHER: Sunny, 62

CHARLESTON, Ill. --- Tennessee State closed out the 2021 season on a high note on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, Ill. The Tigers snapped a 16-game losing skid with a 2-0 shutout win over Eastern Illinois.

Senior Lauren Powell saved the best for last as she recorded her first shutout victory since March of 2018 and the third of her career. The hurler opened the day with a strikeout and finished by fanning the final three batters.

The defense stood tall for Powell as they helped get out of a couple jams. In the second, with runners on first and second with one out. the Tigers thwarted an attempt to steal third. Catcher Kayli Mothershed came up firing to Anayah Baker-Rowell at third, forcing the would-be base stealer to slam on the breaks and retreat to second. Baker gave chase and tagged the runner before she was able to retreat to second.

In the third, the Panthers were threatening again with runners on second and third with one out. EIU thought they had taken the lead when Mia Davis seemed to hit a ball over the head of Ivory Jones in left field. Jones turned and made the catch by reaching over her head and wheeled to throw to third to double off the runner who had left thinking the second-year Tiger was beat by the hit. The double play kept the scoreless tie after three.

Mothershed wasted little time in the fourth inning as she drove a scorching drive over the centerfield fence on a 2-0 count to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It would be all Powell would need, but the Tigers added an insurance run in the sixth.

TSU loaded the bases in the frame with singles by Bri Vire, Motehrshed and Renae Spears. With one out, Peyton Fointno hit into a fielders choice which forced pinch runner Meaghan Lewis out at third. The ground ball allowed Vire to come home to extend the lead to 2-0.

Powell retired the last seven batters in order to pick up the win and finish 4-11 on the season. The Springboro, Ohio, native scattered five hits and three walks as she struck out seven on the day.

Fointno finished the day going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Peyton Fointno collected the first hit of the game with a two-out single to center in the top of the second inning.
• Lauren Powell struck out the first batter she faced and picked up another to end the first.
• EIU threatened in the second with back-to-back walks to lead off the inning.
• Kayli Mothershed threw out the lead runner trying to steal third for the second out, while Powell ended the threat with her third punch out of the game.
• The Panthers put runners on second and third with consecutive one out hits in the third.
• Left fielder Ivory Jones made a multiple run saving catch and was able to double off the runner at third to keep the Panthers scoreless through three.
• Three pitches later, Mothershed hit a 2-0 pitch over the fence in center to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the fourth.
• The fourth dinger of the season for the sophomore catcher was a hard line drive, no doubter.
• EIU continued to put pressure on with a pair of runners in the fourth and fifth innings, but Powell and the Tigers wiggled out of both situations.
• TSU loaded the bases in the sixth with singles by Bri Vire, Mothershed and Renae Spears.
• The Big Blue extended its lead to 2-0 as Vire scored on a fielders choice off the bat of Fointno.
• Powell would make the runs stand as she retired the final seven Panther batters, capped off by striking out the side in the seventh.

UP NEXT: The Tigers concluded the 2021 season. Look for the 2022 schedule in the fall.

NOTES:

• The Tigers wore the blue jerseys with grey pants and blue socks for the first time this season.
• The game was the final game of the 2021 season.
• TSU snapped a 16 game losing streak.
• The Kayli Mothershed's home run was the 14th by the Tigers this season which is the 7th most in program history.
• Lauren Powell earned her shutout of the season, third of her career.
• Her last shutout came on Mar. 10, 2018, versus Bowling Green in Memphis, Tenn.
• It was also the last shutout by a Tiger pitcher since Raven Loveless at SIUE on Apr. 26, 2019.