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Tulsa Invite Info

TULSA, Okla. -- The Eastern Illinois bats exploded for 11 hits on Sunday afternoon, as the Panther softball squad remained undefeated at the Tulsa Embassy Suites Invitational with a 10-5 win over Midwest foe UMKC.

The win, EIU's fourth straight, improved the Panthers to 5-2 on the year and sets up a invite title game with the host Hurricane squad this afternoon, as Tulsa is also undefeated in weekend play.

Junior Melinda Jackson led with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, earning a game-high six RBIs via two singles, a double-bagger and ultimately the game-winning three-run homer. That adds to her season base-clearing total to three and sixth all-time.

Meanwhile, senior Denee' Menzione also made the most of her three at-bats, connecting for two solo bombs. That moves her career number to 21, just two shy of tying the school record mark set by former EIU standout Sandyn Short.

Senior Megan Nelson and freshman Ally Seplak each registered two hits each and accounted for five of the Panther runs. Seplak made an impressive return to the lineup after suffering a slight concussion at the season-opening GSU invite.

Two freshmen led the pitching game with Hailie Ray getting the start and Natalie Wunderlich earning the win in the final four frames. For the second consecutive game, the Panther bullpen picked up a win without registering a strikeout, as both newcomers allowed just one walk apiece and scattered six runs, allowing no home runs and just one double-bagger.

Team-wise, EIU finished with 11 hits to eight for the Kangaroos and committed just one error while UMKC were tabbed with two. Nelson, Jackson, Seplak, and freshman Abby Wood each earned a stolen base, as compared to just two bag thefts by UMKC.

The Roo's took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the second inning as consecutive singles would bring home the three runs.

EIU pulled to within one run by tallying two straight one-run innings, as Jackson drilled an double to plate Seplak in the top of the third and Menzione drilled her first homer, in walk-up fashion.

The Panthers then exploded for four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Jackson's three-RBI bomb and Menzione's second solo homer came about in the fifth, while EIU scored four runs with two outs on the board in the sixth.

First, freshmen Seplak and Melise Brown got on via a walk and UMKC error, respectively. Jackson then doubled thru the left side, bringing both newcomers home. Junior Kiley Holtz then delivered a two-run single to left for the final Panther points.

UMKC added a run in both the fifth and seventh frames, but it wasn't enough as Eastern held on for the win.

Following this afternoon's invite championship game versus Tulsa, the Panthers will next play at the Arkansas Invitational next weekend.

… for more info contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID