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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad dropped a tough mid-week road game at #18-Illinois on Thursday, as the Illini used two clutch home runs to pull away for the 8-0 five-inning victory.

The Panthers fall to 20-18 with the loss while Illinois improves to 29-5 on the year.

Senior Denee' Menzione ripped a walk-up double to center field in the fifth inning and sophomore Ashley Anderton earned a fifth inning single to shortstop to account for the Panther hitting.

Eastern earned two more base runners as both Menzione and newcomer Melise Brown got on base after being hit by a pitch.

The Illini, meanwhile, connected for eight hits and capitalized on an EIU error to win the run-rule win.

Freshman thrower Natalie Wunderlich was tabbed with the loss in the circle off her 3.1 innings of work where she struck out three Illini batters and registered zero walks.  Unfortunately she also allowed all eight Illinois hits and five earned runs to fall to 5-6 on the year.  Fellow freshman Hailie Ray came in in relief for the final two Panther outs, as she walked one and struck out another.  Both freshmen pitchers combined to strand five Illini runners on base.

The Panthers will now have a day to prepare for a three-game, weekend Ohio Valley Conference series showdown at first place UT Martin this weekend.

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