The Skyhawks opened the 2006 OVC season by dropping two of three games to Eastern Illinois this weekend.

Rebel Games - Kissimmee, Fla.

• Junior Holly Templeton pitched a two-hitter as the Skyhawk softball team opened the Rebel Games with a 5-1 victory over Dayton on March 12. The Skyhawks jumped on the Flyers early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Emily Webb, Savannah Roberts, Stacey Weaver and Lauren Manna drove in the runs. Justine Pineda drove in the final run in the fifth inning.

• Pineda drove in the tying and winning runs with a one-out triple in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Skyhawks came from behind to top Colgate, 3-2. She had two hits and drove in all three Skyhawk runs in the game. Freshman Ashley Myatt earned the win on the mound for the Skyhawks. Myatt pitched two and one-third innings, striking out two.

• The Skyhawks beat Army by a score of 8-2 for their third consecutive win on March 13. Freshman Kara Harper earned her first collegiate win, allowing four runs in four innings. Holly Templeton threw three scoreless innings for the save. Pineda and Christa Webb each hit home runs for the Skyhawks.

• Myatt added another win to her season total in the Skyhawks' 2-1 win over Wagner. She allowed three hits and struck out six Seahawk hitters. The Skyhawks collected ten hits in the game. Brandy Whalen, Jennifer Young, and Savannah Roberts had two hits each.

• Maine hitters had no luck against Myatt as she surrendered only one hit in the Skyhawks' 4-0 win. Myatt allowed a leadoff double before settling down. Myatt struck out four hitters in the game and did not give up a walk. Offensively, the Skyhawks used "small ball" to manufacture runs. All four runs were the result of either a sacrifice bunt or sac fly.

• Young drove in the winning run in the eighth inning as the Skyhawks beat George Washington, 2-1. The extra inning became necessary when the Colonials tied the game in the second inning. Christa Webb was placed on second base by rule to start the final inning. Ashton Strode pitched a complete game for the Skyhawks.

• The Skyhawks' lone loss in the tournament came against Butler bright and early Wednesday morning. The Skyhawks dropped a 3-2 decision in the game, which started at 8:50 a.m. and lasted nine innings. The score was tied 1-1 after seven innings. Pineda put the Skyhawks ahead 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning. However, Butler tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Tara Long drove in the winning run for Butler in the bottom of the ninth.

• Harper pitched a two-hitter against Fairleigh Dickinson as the Skyhawks picked up a 3-0 win. Savannah Roberts hit a solo home run for the Skyhawks in the fifth inning. Young then drove in a run with a double in the sixth inning. Roberts finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate. She leads the team with four home runs on the season.

vs. Eastern Illinois- Martin, Tenn.

The Skyhawks opened the 2006 OVC season by dropping two of three games to Eastern Illinois this weekend. The Panthers claimed a 4-2 win in the first game, benefitting from four Skyhawk errors. They collected nine hits off Skyhawk starter Ashley Myatt. The Skyhawks struggled at the plate, managing only three hits in the game. Young hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning of the second game to give the Skyhawks a 4-1 lead. The Skyhawks held on to win the game, 4-3. Young scored on a wild pitch and Fallon Lowery had an RBI single in the second inning.

The Skyhawks were shut out in the third game of the series on Sunday, 4-0. The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when EIU's Cassandra North hit a home run. Skyhawk starter Ashton Strode took the loss, dropping her record to 6-7 on the season. Jennifer Young had both of the Skyhawks' hits in the game, picking up a single in the fourth and a double in the sixth.