Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game #4 Box:  PDF
Game #5 Box:  PDF
Weekend Series Stats:  PDF

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Eastern Illinois softball split a pair of games to open Samford Tournament action on Saturday, falling to Mercer, 2-0, after defeating the host squad, 4-1.  The Panthers move to 3-2 on the early season.

In the tourney opener against the Bulldogs, sophomore Morgan Biel and Bailey O'Dell both went 2-for-3 at the plate as the duo also added an RBI.  O'Dell also touched home twice, while Biel notched a pair of stolen bases as well.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Maday maintained a perfect mark in the circle with a complete-game win to improve to 3-0 on the year.  She retired nine batters via strikes, coming three shy of her career-high, while fanning three Samford hits and issuing five walks.

The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two frames as Biel's single up the middle plated sophomore Ashleigh Westover in the first and sophomore Brooke Owens earned an RBI fielders choice to bring home O'Dell in the second inning.

After the home team earned a bases-loaded walk to pull to within 2-1 of Eastern in the fifth, the Panthers secured two more runs in the sixth to earn the nice win.

A fielder's choice RBI by O'Dell allowed Biel to touch home plate, while a passed ball by the Samford (3-6) pitcher brought home O'Dell.

In the final game of the day, the Panthers came up short against Mercer, as the Bears out-hit EIU, 5-3, which included two runs via a sacrifice fly and a solo shot over the fence.

Sophomore Abby Wood, freshman Hannah Cole and Westover each earned a hit in the loss, as Eastern ended up stranding five runners as compared to four for Mercer.

Heartland College transfer Hanna Mennenga was tagged with the loss in the circle behind four innings of work as she registered six strikeouts, two walks and scattered three hits.

Sophomore two-sport athlete Reynae Hutchinson also saw action in the circle with two innings of relief.

Besides beating EIU, Mercer (4-7) also earned a 6-2 win over Samford on Saturday to own a 2-0 tourney record, with the Panthers currently 1-1, while the Bulldogs own an 0-2 weekend mark.

Eastern will get a second shot at both Mercer and Samford on Sunday to finish tourney action, with first pitches set for noon and 2:15 p.m., respectively.

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