Eastern Illinois Downs Virginia, 11-3

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COLUMBIA, S.C. The Virginia softball team (7-5) was downed by Eastern Illinois 11-3 in six innings Friday in the team’s second game of the Gamecock Invitational.
Clara Kendall, Abby Snyder, Nicole Koren and Casey Steffan had hits for the Cavaliers.

Freshman Stephanie Coates took the loss, throwing just 2/3 innings as Eastern Illinois scored four runs in the bottom of the first. Karla Wilburn came on to throw the remainder of the first and all of the second inning, allowing three runs, and Nicole Koren made her season debut in the circle, tossing the final three 2/3 innings. Koren gave up four runs and struck out two.

Eastern Illinois tallied 11 runs on 14 hits in the game.

Virginia’s lone scoring inning was in the top of the fourth. Carly Winger led off with a walk and stole second. Tacke then walked and a Clara Kendall bunt single loaded the bases. An Abby Snyder groundout scored Winger and Koren’s single scored Tacke. Lauren McCaskey made the second out with a groundout to the right side as Kendall scored on the play. Virginia cut Eastern Illinois’ lead to 7-3.

The Panthers added another run in the fifth and had a three-run sixth for a run-rule victory.

Virginia will play North Florida at 7 p.m. Saturday.