Game 1 Boxscore (PDF)  |  Game 2 Boxscore (PDF)  |  Gallery (Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball swept visiting Ohio Valley Conference east division rival Belmont on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers doubled up the Bruins behind respective wins of 8-4 and 4-2.

EIU improves to 23-10 overall, but more importantly remain all alone in first place in the conference standings at 11-1.  Belmont, meanwhile, dropped to 12-19 and 2-9, respectively, following the defeats.

For the day, juniors Brooke Owens and Carly Willert paced the Panthers at the plate with identical 4-for-7 marks (.571), as Owens finished with five RBIs which tied sophomore Bailey O'Dell.

Willert and sophomore Hannah Cole chipped in an RBI as well in the sweep, while newcomer Jennette Isaac registered the lone stolen base.

The junior duo of Hanna Mennenga and Stephanie Maday would earn respective complete game victories in the circle as the pair combined for 11 strikeouts.

Playing versus high and gusty winds all day, both squads used the long ball to get on the board, as Belmont opened the first game with a two-run bomb to take the early 2-0 lead in the first frame.

However, the Panthers would pull to within one with as Owens earned her first RBI of the day to plate senior Melise Brown.

EIU would erupt for four runs in the bottom of the third as O'Dell jacked her second career grand slam to blow the game open as her shot carried over the right centerfield fence, despite the high winds.

The Panthers would then tack on three more scores in the fourth.  Three consecutive singles, including an RBI shot down the left field line by Willert, would eventually bring home senior Ally Seplak.  Owens would then deliver a hard ball up the gut of the Belmont defense to score Willert and Brown.

Pitcher Hanna Mennenga, the reigning OVC 'Pitcher of the Week', would earn the complete game win to improve to 15-4 overall and 7-1 in league action.  She was held way below her 11 K average in seven innings of play, as she retired four Bruins via strikes, while allowing just one walk and four runs.

In the nightcap, EIU would jump out to a 3-0 lead.  Cole delivered an RBI single down the right field line, followed by Owens' own RBI shot to second base, while O'Dell nabbed grounded out for an RBI as well.

Belmont would make things interesting, however, as the Bruins pulled to within one run with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, yet Owens would counter with an RBI double to bring home Willert for the final margin of victory.

The visiting squad had one last chance to tie or retake the lead in the top of the seventh as the Bruins enjoyed a bases loaded situation but ended up stranding the trio in the loss.

With the win in the circle, Stephanie Maday improved her perfect OVC mark to 4-0 on the year, and 8-3 overall, as she struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk and two earned runs.  She also held the Bruins to a low .192 bat.

For the day, EIU led the Bruins in hitting (.345-to-.246), hits (19-to-14), doubles (4-to-2), RBI (12-to-6), and strikeouts thrown (11-to-5).

Panthers will complete their recent homestand with a noon twinbill versus Tennessee State on Sunday.  TSU are coming off a pair of road losses at SIU Edwardsville this afternoon.

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