Box Score
Game #35 Box:  PDF
Season Series Stats (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Eastern Illinois softball defeated Tennessee State, 4-0, on Saturday (April 7) to earn the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season series sweep of the Tigers.

The Panthers improve to 20-15 overall and 10-6 in league play after earning the squad's third consecutive series sweep of a league opponent.

Junior Melise Brown led all Panthers on the day with a 3-for-4 plate performance, which included a pair of RBI and two stolen bases as well.

Newcomer Bailey O'Dell drilled a double while sophomore Carly Willert added a sac bunt as well as a sac fly RBI.  Sophomore Kaylie Pruett added her own sac bunt while sophomore Ashleigh Westover recorded a base theft as well.

Senior Hailee Hanna and junior Ally Seplak each added a pair of hits to the nine-hit day by the Panthers, as compared to just two for TSU (11-26/3-14).

Sophomore Stephanie Maday earned the complete game shutout win with five strikeouts and just two walks in the circle.  She fanned just two TSU hits as the Panthers defense helped the pitcher strand four Tiger base runners.  Maday improves to a team-high 11-8 overall

Pitcher Stephanie Maday picked up the victory to now sport a 10-8 overall season record.  In her 10th complete game, the sophomore retired six TSU batters via strikes, allowed four walks and fanned six hits by the home squad.

Eastern took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Brown nailed an RBI shot to right field that plated Westover from second.

Then in the fifth frame, the Panthers added two more runs as O'Dell got things going off her walk-up double.  A single by Brown to center field turned into two bases thanks to a TSU miscue, which would bring home O'Dell.  Then Brown would then score thanks to Willert's sac fly RBI.

Seplak would finish the EIU run total with a score in the top of the sixth thanks to another Tiger error.

The Panthers will continue their recent road swing, traveling to I-70 rival Indiana State for a single-game set for Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. (central time).

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