Ohio Valley Conference

AUSTIN, Texas - UCF jumped out with four runs in the top of the first inning that Eastern Illinois could not overcome as the Golden Knights eliminated the Panthers with a 10-2 win on Saturday in the Austin Regional.

EIU ends its season at 34-20 as the Panthers made their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after winning both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.

UCF improved to 34-23-1.

After UCF jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, EIU cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Alisha Frederick, her second RBI of the tournament.

Abbey Crain came home to score that run as the fifth-year player went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Panthers collecting three of EIU’s four hits.

Kendall Grover had the other EIU hit with her single to left forcing UCF starter Isabella Vega from the game in the bottom of the third.  Kaitlyn Felton (14-4) came in to pitch three innings of relief for the win.

UCF scored in all five innings with Stormy Kotzeinick going 4-for-4 with three RBI for the Golden Knights. Coco Jaimes added a two-run home run.

EIJU scored its final run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Crain that scored Morgan Hance.

McKenzie Oslanzi (20-15) suffered the loss in the circle as EIU’s starter.