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Game #2 Box:  PDF
Game #3 Box:  PDF
Weekend Series Stats:  PDF

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Eastern Illinois softball split Georgia State Tournament action on Sunday, defeating Chattanooga after previously falling at Georgia State by scores of 5-4 and 7-0, respectively.

The split ups the Panther mark to 2-1 on the early season as EIU ends season-opening tourney play in Atlanta, Ga.

At the top of the seventh inning against UTC, an RBI single up the middle by senior catcher Hailee Hanna plated sophomore Morgan Biel from third to give the Panthers the nice win over the Mocs (4-4) in the second game.

“This was a good team win against a good team,” said seventh-year head coach Kim Schuette.  “Two good squads battled and battled with some good softball.  Our base running early and adjustments late in the game helped us get a good 'w'.”

EIU previously enjoyed a lead over UTC, but four runs off three homers, including three late scores in the game would give the Mocs a 4-4 tie heading into the final frame.

Down 1-0, Eastern took advantage of a UC error to score a run in the second inning to tie the game.

Two more Panther runs came in the next frame as sophomore Ashley Westover plated senior outfielder Maria Sorrentino off a fielder's choice, followed by another EIU run via a Moc error.

An RBI ground out by Biel brought home classmate Carly Willert to account for the other Panther score in the fifth inning.

Sophomore Stephanie Maday improved to 2-0 in the circle with a complete game win off six strikeouts and just two walks, fanning eight UTC hits.  For the weekend she collected 13 Ks, two walks and a 2.0 ERA.

Biel led the Panther bats with a 3-for-4 game against UTC.  EIU tied UTC with eight total hits in the game as seven additional EIU batters earned at least one hit.  That included a double by junior catcher Abby Wood.

“Was a nice weekend for both Biel and Maday, plus Wood did some nice things today,” added Schuette.

Defensively, EIU had just one error as compared to five for the defending SoCon champions.  The Panthers stranded nine runners on base, while the Mocs left six.

Senior Hayley Pieper notched the first stolen base on the season.

In the first game of the day against the host Georgia State squad, the Panthers fell behind 5-0 in the bottom of the first with Biel accounting for the lone EIU hit in the 7-0 loss.

EIU did tie the tourney host Panther unit with four runners left on base as GSU had nine hits and also tied Eastern with an error.

Sophomore transfer Hanna Mennenga earned her first Division I start in a Panther uniform with 4.1 innings of work against GSU.  She registered four strikeouts and two walks while allowing nine GSU hits while also unfortunately being tagged with seven earned runs.

“Mennenga threw better than the stats will show,” said Schuette.  “That was a 3-0 ball game in my book.  Before the first pitch is thrown we have to be ready to go out and attack.  For some reason we got timid in the first inning on defense, looked bad and didn't hit well enough to come back.  We learned, though, and that's going to help us down the road.”

Junior Hailie Ray came in in relief for 1.2 innings to earn three Ks of her own.

Panthers will now prepare for next weekend's two-day, three-team Samford Tournament.  EIU will play Mercer and the host Bulldog squad on both Saturday and Sunday in Birmingham, Ala.

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