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Four-Game Invite Series Stats

Live Stats (via GSU website)
ETSU Buccaneers
GSU Tigers (host)
Temple Owls

ATLANTA -- A three-run bomb by sophomore Hailee Hanna and a solo blast by junior Kiley Holtz helped lead Eastern Illinois softball to the championship of the Georgia State Panther Invitational on Sunday, as the EIU gutted out the 6-2 win over the host squad in the final game of the four-team invite.

The championship contest between the two Panther teams came about after Eastern downed Temple earlier in the day, 12-2, in five innings. The other team competing, East Tennessee State, earned third place, downing Temple in an afternoon game. No All-Invitational awards were awarded.

Holtz ended up with a 2-for-3 outing as she also added an RBI single. Senior Angie Danca also had a nice day at the plate, going 2-for-3 as well, while junior Melinda Jackson continued a hot weekend of play with a hit, as did senior Denee' Menzione.

Freshman thrower Hailie Ray picked up her first career win in the circle, behind five-innings of work, recording three strikeouts and just one walk while scattering four hits.

The home squad took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a sacrifice fly. Following two scoreless innings, the EIU Panthers took over the lead for good off a four-run frame at the top of the fourth. A single from first baseman Jackson was followed by a sac bunt by sophomore Ashley Anderton, with Holtz plating Jackson.

Sophomore Hayley Pieper then took over for Holtz at third, as right fielder Menzione walked to set-up the big play by Hanna. With two outs, Hanna drilled a hit to left center, scoring both Pieper, Menzione as well herself.

GSU added another run in the bottom of the next inning off a lead-off solo homer.

In the sixth, Eastern added two more insurance runs as Holtz nailed her ninth career homerun prior to the Danca reaching home off a GSU miscue.

Team-wise, both teams were issued with two errors apiece, while EIU stranded three runners compared to four for GSU. Eastern also out-hit the host squad, seven to four. The win also helped avenge an earlier tough 4-1 loss to GSU on Saturday.

Junior Melinda Jackson led all Panthers in the four-game weekend series off her 4-for-9 hitting performance, which included an impressive 1.111 slug percentage, thanks to two home runs and five RBIs. DP Ashley Anderton went 5-for-10 at the plate, including two doubles and RBIs.

Kylie Holtz and Hailee Hanna both finished with three RBIs off four and two hits, including a homer apiece.

The EIU bullpen finished with a combined 3.00 ERA, throwing 17 strikeouts and allowing nine earned runs while scattering 19 hits. Junior Amber May recorded an even 1-1 mark, while newcomers Hailee Ray and Natalie Wunderlich went 1-0 and 0-1, respectively.

Series stats showed Eastern topped the opposition in hitting average (.283 to .192), hits (28 to 19), homers (four to three), RBIs (18 to 10), and slugging (.434 to .384). The EIU base runners had a perfect opening weekend finishing with a perfect 6-for-6 stolen base tally.

The Panthers will return home to prepare for next weekend's five-team Embassy Suites Invitational, where they will face South Dakota State, UMKC, Creighton, and the host Tulsa squad.

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