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

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad split a home Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, as the Panthers won the first game, 4-3, but dropped the game, 7-0.

The split moved EIU to 18-17 on the year and 8-4 in league play, while EKU now sports a 12-26 overall mark and an even 6-6 record in conference action.

Freshman Melise Brown led all Panthers with a 4-for-6 day at the plate and finished 3-for-4 in stolen bases, which moves her all-time theft total to 14.

Junior Melinda Jackson and sophomore Hailee Hanna both registered two RBI performances, as Jackson nailed two RBI-singles and Hanna ripped a two-run single in the first game victory.

Junior Amber May threw a complete game one win, upping her record to 11-10 overall with four strikeouts and just one walk.

May also came in relief during the second game as freshman Natalie Wunderlich got off to a rough start, as EKU took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning. Fellow freshman Hailie Ray briefly replaced Wunderlich before May took over for good to pitch the remaining 5.1 innings, striking out five batters and allowing zero walks or earned runs.

The Colonels plated five runs in the long game two second inning and then added two insurance runs in the fourth. But the Panthers gave one final push in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs, however the EKU thrower got out of inning. Plus EIU stranded two more runners to end the game as both OVC squads stranded 11 runners apiece on the day.

Also earning at least one hit in the opening win for the Panthers were senior Megan Nelson with two and Denee' Menzione and Jen Saucier each earning a single. Angie Danca earned the other Panther stolen base. 

The second game loss was the first for EIU at home this season.

The rubber game of the weekend series is set for Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for noon at EIU's Williams Field.

… for more info, contact Bart Rettberg