Box Score

The Basics
Score: Eastern Illinois 3, Western Carolina 1
Records: Western Carolina 1-2, Eastern Illinois 6-3
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. (Brinkley Stadium)

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Western Carolina softball closed out day two of the Runnin' Bulldog Softball Tournament, hosted by Gardner-Webb, with a 3-1 loss to Eastern Illinois Saturday at Brinkley Stadium.

Turning Point
Eastern Illinois scored in the second and third innings to build a 2-0 lead and tacked on an insurance run in the fifth.

How it Happened
Eastern Illinois benefitted from Western Carolina giving up a lead-off runner in the top of the second off a Catamount error who came around to score. The Panthers built a 2-0 lead with a run plated in the third inning. Western Carolina cut the Eastern Illinois lead in half with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Madison Armstrong hit a two-out single to the left side and moved to second when Shaina Reed drew a walk. A wild pitch pushed Armstrong to third and Reed to second. Armstrong scored off Eastern Illinois' second wild pitch in the inning. Eastern Illinois tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth.

Inside the Box Score
- Western Carolina had three hits in the game and gave up eight to Eastern Illinois.
- Armstrong went 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored.
- Lily Hayes got the start and went five innings giving up three runs on six hits and drops to 0-1. 
- Freshman hurler Haley Brogden tossed two shutout innings giving up two hits and striking out two.

News & Notes
- The loss to Eastern Illinois was the second straight to the Panthers as the Catamounts dropped a 5-3 decision on Friday.
- Armstrong has three hits over the last two games.
- As a team, Western Carolina has 14 hits over the first three games of the season.

Up Next
Western Carolina will face host Gardner-Webb in a doubleheader beginning at noon on Sunday.

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