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ATLANTA -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad picked up their first win of the season, exploding past Temple, 12-2, in a five-inning rout at the Georgia State Invitational on Sunday morning. The win moved the Panthers to 1-2 overall.

After two tough loses in their first two games of the invitational on Saturday, the bats for Eastern Ewere firing on all cylinders, as eight different players earned at least one hit.

Ashley Anderton, who has jumped out to an impressive 2010 season at the designated hitter spots, went 2-for-3, with two RBIs. Junior Melinda Jackson connected on her second bomb of the early season in as many games, finishing with a 2-for-3 game, plating four RBIs.

Junior Kiley Holtz had a perfect 2-for-2 performance, while sophomore Hailee Hanna earned her third career double-bagger. Five more Panthers picked up a hit as well as EIU dominated via a 11-5 hitting advantage. Both squads recorded two errors apiece. The Panthers picked the Owl's pockets behind four stolen bases, including two for newcomer Melise Brown.

EIU got their first score in the bottom of the first. It started with freshman Melise Brown reaching base off a Temple error, where she would then proceeded to steal second. Senior shortstop Megan Nelson then got on base via the fielder's choice and advanced to second as Brown got tagged out in a run-down between second and third. Following another EIU out, soph DP Ashley Anderton connected on a single to right center, scoring Nelson.

The Panthers added four more runs in the second frame, as Nelson's single would score senior right fielder Denee' Menzione at second. First baseman Melinda Jackson then blast her three-run bomb, her second of the weekend, to right centerfield scoring both Brown and Nelson, who had reached base just prior off a walk and a single, respectively.

Temple cut into the 5-0 Panther lead in the top of the third via a two-out triple, scoring two runs. However, Eastern would utilize a seven-run fourth inning to blow the game wide open, accounting for the final mercy-rule win.

In the fourth, catcher Hailee Hanna doubled to centerfield, with freshman Abby Wood filling in as pitch runner. A sac bunt by sophomore second baseman Jen Saucier would advance Wood to third. Then thanks to a passed ball by the Temple catcher, Wood would sprint home for the first score of the inning.

Brown then singled thru the right side and then not only stole second, but advanced to third thanks to another Owl miscue.  Following a walk by Nelson, Jackson would earn her fourth RBI of the game via a single through the left side, forcing a pitching change for the Owls.

After Jackson picked up one of the four EIU stolen bases on the day, Anderton plate Nelson off a single. Third baseman Kylie Holtz then nailed a single down the left field line, scoring Jackson from third. Freshman Hailie Ray would step-in as pinch-runner for Anderson at second, Holtz would be tagged out at second off a fielder's choice off of Danca's bat, as Ray advanced to third.

Freshman Andi Morgan, pinch hitting for Menzione, would then walk, as Danca moved to second. Wood would connect on a single to left field to bring home Ray. Saucier would also nail a two-run single, as both Morgan and Danca picked up the last two Panther runs.

EIU junior thrower, Amber May would pick up her first win of the season in the circle, retiring four batters off strikes, while walking just one and scattering four hits.

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