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

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Eastern Illinois softball squad rebounded from a disappointing three-game weekend league series at Morehead State by winning two crucial games at Saint Louis, 3-0 and 6-4, on Tuesday.

Sophomore Jen Saucier's two-RBI single helped the Panthers (17-14) capture the first game shutout, while EIU took advantage of several Billiken errors to battle back from a 4-1 deficit to earn the 6-4 comeback win.

For the day, freshman Ally Seplak led all Panthers with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, including one of six RBI by Eastern. Seniors Megan Nelson and Angie Danca also earned two hits apiece, while six more Panthers earned a single and newcomer Andi Morgan recorded her first career two-bagger.

Junior Amber May and freshman Hailie Ray each picked up a win in the circle, with May notching a one-hit shutout in game one to improve to 10-9 on the year, as Ray notched her second win in a Panther uniform, coming in to relieve fellow freshman Natalie Wunderlich in the second game victory.

After Saucier's two-run single, the Panthers would plate an insurance run in the fifth frame of game one as junior a single by Kiley Holtz would bring home Wood. May would hold the Billikens, who are undefeated in Atlantic 10 play, to just one hit, a double, as she struck out three and walked just one.

In the nightcap, the Panthers got on the scoreboard in their half of the opening frame, taking advantage of one of five Billiken errors as Danca scampered home from second base as Wood's single led to an error by the left fielder.

SLU would then score four unanswered runs over the next two innings to take their first lead of the day. However, the Panthers counter with two runs in the top of the fourth to pull within 4-3 as Morgan would plate Seplak via her first ever double in a Panther uniform. Following a sac bunt by Monica Strube to advance both Amanda Bilina and Morgan to second and third, respectively, a fielding error by the Billiken second baseman would score Morgan.

Eastern would tie the game and then retake the lead via three runs in their half of the fifth, as Anderton got on base thanks to yet another SLU error, as Brown would earn a stolen base as she took over for the sophomore as a pinch runner. Seplak would earn her second RBI of the day, bringing home Brown thanks to her single up the gut of the SLU defense.

Morgan would get on base thanks to another SLU miscue as Seplak would score thanks to one more error by a Billiken defender. Strube would then account for the last Panther run by plating Morgan via her single thru the right side.

The Panthers won the twin bill by winning several team statistical categories, including hitting (.245 to .167), total hits (13 to eight), RBI (six to two), and walks (five to three).

SLU (18-14) finished with one more stolen base than EIU, as the Billikens went 5-for-5 in thefts while the Panthers earned all four stolen base attempts, including two steals by senior Angie Danca and one each by Megan Nelson and Melise Brown.

Both squads turned two double-plays each and the Panthers won despite leaving 13 total runners on base as compared to ten for SLU.

Eastern returns to the field on Tuesday, traveling to Indianapolis for a twin bill at Butler.

… for more info, contact Bart Rettberg