Tournament Series Stats (PDF)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Denee' Menzione's selection to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Tournament Team and junior ace thrower Amber May's performance in the circle highlighted the Eastern Illinois softball squad at the end-of-season tourney in Martin, Tenn., as the Panther squad finished in fourth place.

EIU opened tourney play be avenging weekend series losses to Murray State that ended the regular-season, by giving the Racers their first loss of the tournament as EIU won a 5-4 thriller in ten innings.

That was followed by a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the host and regular-season champion squad, UT Martin, despite leading the favorites 2-0 thru the top half of the sixth inning.

The Panthers bounced back in the losers bracket by sending Morehead State home via a 9-4 win, but finished the season at the hands of Tennessee Tech, as the Golden Eagles avenged three regular-season losses to EIU with a 3-2 win in nine innings.

“The tournament was some of the best ball we played all year,” said EIU head coach Kim Schuette, “but somehow we lost two very close games. Finishing fourth wasn't our goal, but the way this team played is something to be proud of. People talk about 'leaving it all on the field', and now these players understand that statement.”

A senior from Darien, Ill, Menzione represented all EIU players on the All-Tourney squad, following an outstanding four-game performance, ending a stellar EIU career on a high note.

In the four games at OVC tourney, she hit an amazing .615 batting average, which included eight total hits off 13 at-bats, with half of those ending up in extra-base hits via three doubles and a homer and finishing up with a four RBI tourney performance.

Menzione finished the season by tying the school-mark for home runs in a season, knocking out eight for the second year as her 27 career dingers rewrote the Panther records. For her career, the outfielder also ended up setting a new career mark for walks with 83 while ranking fourth for all-time RBI and seventh in total bases with 245.

“Denee' deserved this award, as well as an all-conference award as she has done it all this year for this team -- hit for average, hit for power, bat leadoff, bat third, stole bases, scored runs and played defense,” said Schuette. “This doesn't even begin to touch the leadership she has provided this team.

“It's too bad the fourth place team only gets one player to the All-Tournament Team, because I believe we played much, much better than fourth in losing two one-run games in which we were leading in both,” said Schuette. “We definitely had more than one player deserving of the All-Tournametn honor, but this gives the returners something to work toward and motivation for next year.”

In the circle, the Panthers rode the arm of May as the Normal, Ill., native pitched all four games of the OVC tourney, throwing an amazing 568 pitches, including 384 strikes, which accounted for 68% of her total pitches. She ended with 23 strikeouts and just eight walks off of 32 innings of work.

Said Schuette, “568 pitches? Whatever she had to do, Amber was ready to throw seven or eight hundred if needed and that's what this team, player #1 thru #19, truly believed last weekend.”

This season the Second Team All-OVC honoree ended up tying her season-high mark for wins with 17 and complete games with 26. She also finished in the Top 10 for season strikeouts (172), games started (31), and appearances (39).

For her career, May has a chance to continue to move up in several career marks next season as a senior as she is already ranked for all-time victories, ERA, saves, strikeouts, shutouts, innings pitched, games started, complete games, and appearances.

Two other seniors this season, Angie Danca and Megan Nelson have also permanently placed their name into the Panther records as EIU return 16 players from this season's squad that finished in fourth place in the OVC tournament behind a 24-27 overall mark, besting their preseason predicted order of finish of sixth place.

Other highlights include sweeping the eventual 2010 OVC Tournament champion Gamecocks of Jacksonville State to open league play, winning the early-season Georgia State Invitational and enjoying a season-high eight-game winning streak.

In addition, junior power hitter Kiley Holtz was tabbed as the weekly 'Player of the Week' twice, while May was named OVC 'Pitcher of the Week'. Both would eventually earn respective First Team and Second Team All-OVC honors as well. 

2010 OVC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Nikki Prior, Jacksonville State (MVP)
Hilary Down, Jacksonville State
Mary Beth Ledbetter, Jacksonville State
Ashley Eliasson, Jacksonville State
Megan Van Arsdale, UT Martin
Laurie Lindow, UT Martin
Kate Vanderham, UT Martin
Holly Thomas, Tennessee Tech
Callie Schmidt, Tennessee Tech
Denee' Menzione, Eastern Illinois
Kayla Brill, Morehead State
Stephanie Mattocks, Murray State

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID