The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Eastern Illinois
Softball drops its Charleston Invite opener to Eastern Illinois, 5-1
03.16.2018 | Softball
Freshman third baseman MK Tedder blasted her first collegiate HR to left during the fifth inning
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A quick start by Eastern Illinois (20-8) over the first four innings on Friday afternoon at the CofC Softball Stadium helped lead the Panthers to a 5-1 victory over Texas softball (10-12) in the Longhorns' opener at the Charleston Invitational.
Freshman third baseman MK Tedder blasted her first collegiate HR on a drive down the left field line during the fifth as part of a 1-for-3, RBI effort. Sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth went 2-for-3 with a double, while senior first baseman Paige von Sprecken was 1-for-3 with her team-leading eighth double of 2018.
In the circle for the Longhorns, junior Brooke Bolinger (4-3) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings of work. Freshman right-hander Ariana Adams was strong in late relief for UT, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two in three scoreless frames.
Eastern Illinois wasted no time jumping to an early 2-0 lead against Texas by stringing together a two-out rally in the top of the first. Consecutive singles by EIU's Haley Mitchell and Mia Davis got the outburst started with both scoring on a double into the left center gap from designated player Kendyl McKeough.
With the Longhorns looking to answer right back in the bottom half, junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter managed to beat out a one-out single to second, moved up a base on a throwing miscue and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Unfortunately, the speedster was left stranded 60 feet from pay dirt as Eastern Illinois starter Jessica Wireman picked up her second strikeout to end the frame.
Ellsworth got the Burnt Orange & White off to a positive start in the second by ripping a leadoff double just inside the third-base line and down into the corner. The big hit wouldn't materialize for the Horns, however, as a pair of strikeouts and a slow roller up the first-base line left the runner in scoring position.
EIU added to its lead during the third with some Longhorns defensive help as a Davis leadoff single and a failed fielder's choice try to second put two aboard for the Panthers. Left fielder Taylor Monahan hit a ball on the infield that was thrown away to first, allowing Davis the opportunity to score and improve EIU's advantage to 3-0. With one out after a pop-up and a pair in scoring position, Eastern Illinois tried the squeeze play, but Tedder charged in and scooped the ball to Ellsworth for the tag at the plate for a big second out. A routine fly ball by shortstop Kiley Pelker was tracked down in center by Hayter as Texas limited the damage to a single run.
The Panthers got another two-out scoring outburst going in the fourth as a Davis solo HR and a McKeough RBI single boosted the Eastern Illinois lead to 5-0.
Texas got two more aboard with one out in the bottom of the fourth as Ellsworth delivered her second base knock of the day and junior right fielder Bekah Alcozer was hit-by-pitch. Unfortunately, the Horns again couldn't string together a full-blown rally as consecutive pop-ups derailed the scoring chance.
The Longhorns finally got on the board with two retired in the bottom of the fifth as Tedder blasted her first career HR just inside the LF foul pole to cut UT's deficit to 5-1.
Down to Texas' last chance in the seventh, freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson gave the Horns some life by lining a one-out single to center. The Humble, Texas, native eventually moved to second on a wild pitch, but that was as far as she went as a strikeout and a fly out to left ended the contest.
