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ETSU Buccaneers
GSU Tigers (host)
Temple Owls

ATLANTA -- Junior first baseman Melinda Jackson nailed her fourth career homer, but a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning would doom the Panthers in their season opener, as East Tennessee State outlasted the Eastern Illinois softball squad, 2-1, on Saturday. The game was third contest at the two-day Georgia State Invitational.

Sophomore designated player Ashley Anderton slugged a double, the third of her career, while shortstop Megan Nelson connected for her first hit as a senior and added a stolen base, the 61st of her career.

ETSU (3-2) got on the board first, thanks to a one-out solo homer at the top of the fourth, but the Panthers (0-1) would counter off of Jackson's solo bomb in the bottom of the frame.

In the top of the eighth, with a player placed on second in the International Tiebreak scenario, the Buccaneers would move the player to third off an untimely wild pitch by EIU's junior thrower, Amber May. That would set-up the sac fly heroics by ETSU to take the 2-1 lead. The Bucs would continue to threaten in the same frame, as two more batters reached base, the first off a double and the second due to an EIU throwing miscue.

However, May would eliminate the ETSU scoring threat after striking out the next batter.

In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Maria Sorrentino pinch ran for classmate Hayley Pieper who was placed on second. Sorrentino moved to third off the sac bunt by sophomore Amanda Bilina, but the Panthers were unable to get her home as the next two EIU batters recorded a fly and pop-up out.

May would take the loss for Eastern, recording six Ks and zero walks. She fanned four hits and was credited with only one earned run.

Team-wise, the Panthers stranded five base runners to six for ETSU, with the Bucs committing zero errors as compared to two for EIU.

Eastern will look to rebound as they are scheduled to play the host Panthers at 3:45 pm. EIU will continue invitational action on Sunday, playing Temple at 9 am and then competing in either the third place or championship game.

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