Game #1 Box:  PDF | HTM
Game #2 Box:  PDF | HTM
2-Game Series Stats:  PDF

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad made the most of their home opening twinbill on Wednesday, sweeping visiting IUPUI in consecutive games, 4-3 (8) and 5-1. The two wins improve the Panthers to 10-11 on the year as EIU is now riding a four-game winning streak.

Freshman Melise Brown's walk-off single to right field gave EIU the 4-3 eight-inning game one win, scoring freshman pinch runner Andi Morgan from third. While in the nightcap, junior Kiley Holtz blasted two consecutive hits over the left field fence, as one was a solo bomb and the other a two-RBI homer.

Holtz's amazing 5-for-6 performance at the plate naturally led all Panthers on the day, as she finished with an amazing .833 batting mark where she registered six RBI and a double as well. Her two second game bombs moved her season total to four, which now ties senior Denee' Menzione.

Menzione also had a nice day at bat, going 3-for-6, while fellow classmate Angie Danca went 3-for-7 and showed her defensive prowess at center field, as she caught a long ball right at the fence, plus dove for two incredible catches as well. Also, Danca was one of four players to notch a stolen base in the twinbill, as senior Megan Nelson and freshmen Brown and Morgan also earned a base theft in the series.

The Panthers took a one-run lead in game one off of a sacrifice bunt from Holtz that would plate Menzione from third. IUPUI (4-18) answered with a run in the second, but Eastern countered with two runs in the third frame, as Menzione, Danca, Melinda Jackson and Holtz all registered consecutive singles with zero outs. Holtz's spinning single to the IUPUI pitcher not only scored Menzione from third, but would force a Jaguar pitching change, as Nicole Natter was hit directly in the face, smashing the sunglasses she was wearing. With new thrower Samantha Bumbaugh now in for IUPUI, EIU leftfielder Brown stepped up to plate Danca via a sac fly to center, accounting for the final run in that inning.

However, IUPUI battled back by earning two runs of their own in the top of the fourth to knot the game three-all. After three scoreless frames, the squads went into extra innings which is where EIU's Brown would connect on her key walk-off single to pull out the home opening Panther win. In fact, with the victory, EIU coach Kim Schutte now sports a perfect 5-0 record in home openers as skipper of the Panther program.

In the second game, EIU scored twice in both the second and third innings, while IUPUI got one run in the fifth before Eastern added an insurance run in their half of that same frame.

Holtz stepped up in the second inning and delivered her first solo bomb, which was followed by a single by Nelson. With Ashley Anderton now at first after being hit by a pitch, Nelson would pick up her stolen base as she slid into third. As she scampered to third after she would take full advantage of an IUPUI throwing error by the catcher, and score after the Jaguar's attempted to catch Nelson stealing.

With two outs in the third, Jackson would earn one of three Panther walks on the day and would then score off of Holtz's second straight homer in the game. Holtz would again earn an RBI single in the fifth, bringing Danca home from second for the final run of the day.

In the two-game series, the Panthers hit .302 off of 16 hits, nine runs, and 8 RBI, all of which bested the visiting Jaguars. However, the Panthers did leave 11 runners on base, including a bases loaded situation in game one, as compared to eight for IUPUI. EIU finished with two double plays on the day, while IUPUI turned one, in fact, one of EIU's double-turns was of the rare 163 (pitcher, shortstop and first base) variety.

Junior Amber May and newcomer Natalie Wunderlich each picked up wins in the circle for EIU, with May improving to 5-7 on the year while Wunderlich is now 4-3. The twosome combined for 10 strikeouts, eight for May and two for Wunderlich, while walking just one batter apiece. Wunderlich and May fanned six and four IUPUI hits, respectively, while Wunderlich finished with one earned run and May tabbed with three.

The Panthers look to continue the winning ways, hosting instate-foe, and future OVC rival, SIU-Edwardsville in a single-game on Thursday (March 25) at 4 pm. Then Eastern will prepare for a three-game home league series against Tennessee Tech on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, rain is expected in the area for both tomorrow and on Sunday.

… for more info, contact Bart Rettberg