Game 1 Box:  PDF | HTM
Game 2 Box:  PDF | HTM
2-Game Series Stats (PDF)

Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Junior Kiley Holtz ripped a homerun and freshman Melise Brown stole two bases as the Eastern Illinois softball earned a hard-fought twin bill split with visiting Murray State on Saturday, winning the first game, 4-1, but dropping the nightcap, 6-3.

The split moves the Panthers to 22-24 on the year and 12-9 in league play, while Murray State improved to 21-27 overall and 10-11 in conference.

Holtz's sixth bomb of the season in the nightcap moves the Panther home run total to 27 on the year, tying the single-season mark set by the EIU squad last season.

Brown earned a steal in each game of the day, giving her 17 on the year and currently tying the freshman record previously earned by current senior Angie Danca back in 2006. Meanwhile, senior Megan Nelson added two thefts of her own in the second game as Eastern secured seven total steals in the doubleheader.

Holtz would finish 2-for-5 day at the plate as she added a two-RBI single in the first game to ultimately give the Panthers the 4-1 victory.

Fellow senior Denee' Menzione also finished with two hits on the day, including a two-run shot to tie the game at three-apiece in the second game. Nelson and Brown, meanwhile, also had a two-hit day, with Danca adding a hit as well.

The first game began as a pitchers duel between EIU's Amber May and Murray's Kosmecki. However, the Panthers would take advantage of three Racer errors in the bottom of the fifth to score four runs to blow the game away.

Freshman Ally Seplak would get on base off a throwing error from the Racer pitcher, Brown would add a bunt single to give EIU runners at the corners. After Brown picked up one of her stolen bases, Nelson would load the bases off a fielders choice to the pitcher. That would force Racer head coach Jay Pyron to change pitchers.

EIU would earn their first score via another fielders choice off the bat of Menzione, as the MSU shortstop tried to get Seplak out at home, but her muffed throw would give the Panthers the lead. That's when Holtz would drill her two-run shot to left center. Menzione would touch home via a wild pitch for the final Eastern run.

The visitors would plate one run in the sixth via a one-run triple, but May would pick up the complete game win to improve to 15-13 on the year as she fired off five strikeouts and walked two while fanning four Murray State hits.

The Racers, who are fielding their first intercollegiate softball squad this season, joining the rest of the OVC institutions, took an early game two lead in their opening frame, as Mattoon native Megan Glosser would score off a freak single that would turn into an inside the park home run as an untimely Panther throwing error to first base would carry to the right field fence in foul territory. MSU would then add another run off a solo blast to left center.

The Panthers would counter with Holtz's walk-up solo dinger in the second inning, but the Racers would add another run in the top of the third. However, Menzione's two-run shot in the third would pull EIU even at three-all.

Unfortunately, the visitors would plate three more runs in the fifth to secure the day one split in OVC action, as EIU freshman Natalie Wunderlich was tabbed with the second game loss off six and a third innings of work, where she struck out three, but walked six and allowed one earn run out of four plated.

Both squads will next play a rubber game on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for noon, following a special senior recognition ceremony to honor the contributions of Angie Danca, Denee' Menzione and Megan Nelson.


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