Game 1 Boxscore (PDF) | Game 2 Boxscore (PDF)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Eastern Illinois softball opened the 2013 campaign with a day one split at the weekend Alabama State Hornet Invitational, falling to UNC Greensboro, 2-0, before rebounding with a 12-0 five-inning rout of the host ASU squad.

Senior outfielder Melise Brown and junior infielder Carly Willert led all Panthers with identical 3-for-7 plate performances for a .429 average, while each also earned a pair of RBIs and a walk.

Brown touched home plate a team-high three times and drilled a pair of triples, as she registered a stolen base along with sophomore outfielder Hannah Cole.

Cole and junior third base Ashleigh Westover both nailed a double as the Panther out-hit the Saturday opposition, 14-to-9, and led in scoring 12-2.

The junior pitching duo of Stephanie Maday and Hanna Mennenga combined for 13 strikeouts, as Maday led with seven Ks in the seven-inning loss to UNCG and Mennenga retired six Hornet batters and allowed just one walk off four innings of work.

In the afternoon win over the host ASU squad, seven different Panthers earned at least one hit, led by Brown's 3-for-4 plate appearance, which included a pair of triples.  She also tied Willert with two RBIs as Cole and Westover earned their doubles.

After two scoreless innings, the Panthers got on the board with four runs in the third frame thanks to a couple of ASU miscues.  The Panthers added four additional scores in both the fourth and fifth innings for the 12-0 mercy-rule victory.

Mennenga picked up the win in the circle with six strikeouts, one walk and allowing just three Hornet hits in four innings, while junior transfer Janele Robinson came in for an inning of relief.

In the first game of the day versus the Spartans of UNCG, Owens led the Panther bats with a 2-for-3 plate appearance, but unfortunately EIU ended up stranding eight base runners.

Greensboro took the early 1-0 lead in the opening frame off a double and RBI single, then extended the lead in the third inning via a solo homer to center.

Pitcher Stephanie Maday was tabbed with the first game loss, despite retiring seven Spartans via strikes and not allowing a walk.  She did give up two earned runs off six UNCG hits.

Eastern returns to the field tomorrow afternoon, as the Panthers will get a second game against both the Hornets and Spartans, as EIU finishes up tourney action with respective 10 a.m. and approximately 12:30 p.m. first pitches.

QUOTING COACH SCHUETTE
"We lost game one to a good UNCG team," she Schuette. "We played some good defense and Maday threw pretty well, especially from the 4th-thru-7th innings.  However, our offense wasn't aggressive and we didn't swing the bat nor attack., while UNCG put the ball in play early in the game with hard ground balls.  We did finally start swinging a little later in the game.

"We did make some nice adjustments in the second game," she added, "hitting ground balls and swinging early on in the pitch count, plus we showed good, aggressive base running.  Owens had a great day, while Mennenga made the ball move well on the mound for strike outs."

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