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Weekend Series Stats:  PDF

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After numerous rain delays and cancellations throughout the weekend, the Eastern Illinois softball squad completed play at the Lady Bison Classic on Sunday, defeating Butler, 6-0, but losing to Appalachian State, 3-0.

The weekend split moves the Panthers to an even 5-5 on the season.

In the 6-0 win over Butler, senior designated hitter Melinda Jackson had a perfect day at the plate, as both her hits led to home runs, as she recorded four RBI in the shutout.

Five other EIU hitters also nailed at least one hit, with freshman first baseman Reynae Hutchinson going 2-for-3 with an RBI single, while sophomore outfielder Melise Brown had a 2-for-4 day at the plate and recorded her third stolen base of the season.

Another Panther with a single in the win included senior Kiley Holtz who connected on an RBI shot of her own, while freshmen Morgan Biel and Carly Willert also tallied a hit.

Freshman Stephanie Maday shined in the circle, retiring a new career-high 12 Bulldog batters via strikes, as she held Butler to just four hits and upped her overall record to 3-1, while still maintaining a zero ERA.

The Panther defense was also on all cylinders, committing zero errors while stranding six Butler runners and not allowing the Bulldogs to advance further than second base all day.

"Even though it was a bitter, wet and frigid day with snow flurries and a wet field, we came out ready to play," said head coach Kim Schuette.  "(Stephanie) Maday had a great game one, getting ahead of hitters right out of the gate.

"Twelve strikeouts later and just a few hits -- that's a tough day to throw a complete game.  She had a good day and her team brought the bats for her.  I was proud of the offense today for plugging away even when we had two outs.  It seemed as though the outs didn't matter except to the coaches to help the baserunners.

"We made big things happen with two outs.  On the other hand, we are not a .500 team and will not be a .500 team.  We did a much better job keeping the game simple today."

EIU tallied three runs in the bottom of the first, as Holtz's single thru the left side scored Hutchinson from first. That's when Jackson connected her first of two home runs, nailing a shot directly over the center field fence.

The Panthers added another run in the second as Hutchinson's single thru the right side plated Brown from third.

Then in the fifth, after Holtz advanced to first thanks to a Butler, junior pinch runner Jen Saucier would be brought home off of Jackson's consecutive two-run blast, this time over the fence at right field.

Jackson's two homers upped her career total to nine, which moves her to seventh on the Panther all-time list.

Versus Appalachian State, Brown and Ashleigh Westover each went 2-for-3 in the batter's box, with Brown also earning her second stolen base of the day.

After several scoreless innings by both squads, including EIU starter Amber May getting out of a threatening scoring situation by the Mountainers in the fourth as the Panthers collected a crucial double-play scenario.

Unfortunately, consecutive doubles would eventually help ASU plate three runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the win and May would be tabbed with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the season.

"We had chances against Appalachian State," said Schuette.  "Several in fact, including a chance to take the lead early in the game.  When you take the lead on a cold day the game changes, but unfortunately they strung three doubles together and got it done.

"We hit line drives, smoked balls right at them and nothing.  That's the way this game sometimes goes.   Today, ASU beat us but I promise you we are not a .500 team."

The Panthers will have multiple opportunities to get over the .500 mak this coming weekend, when the squad returns to the field down in sunny Kissimmee, Florida.  EIU is set to compete in the multi-squad Rebel Spring Games. EIU will battle eight squads over the course of four days, starting on March 13.

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