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

MONROE, La. – Eastern Illinois softball began Louisiana-Monroe Mardi Gras Classic action with a pair of comeback wins on Friday (Feb. 14), as the Panthers hit past the host Warhawks, 9-2, and Grambling State, 5-2, respectively, to improve to 4-3 overall.

In the first game rout of the tourney hosts, the Panthers clawed past the Warhawks after being down 2-0 in the first frame. Yet EIU would erupt for at least one run in the final five innings, which included five scores in the sixth frame alone.

Three different players – senior Brooke Owens, junior Hannah Cole and sophomore April Markowski -- blasted a home run in the win, with Markowski delivering a two-RBI shot.

Sophomore Jennette Isaac led all players with a 2-for-3 plate mark plus a stolen base, as she joined senior Carly Willert and newcomer Amber Toenyes with addition RBI performances. Cole and senior Reynae Hutchinson added respective 2-for-4 hitting as both also touched home twice.

Stephanie Maday earned the complete game win in the circle as the senior retired five ULM batters off strikes yet allowed zero zero walks and just two runs, which came off the long ball in the early going.

Team-wise, EIU out-hit ULM, 11-to-10, while leaving just four base runners on base as compared to seven for the Warhawks. The Panthers also committed just two miscues while ULM tallied five errors.

The nightcap win over the Tigers of Grambling State started nearly identically to the first game of the day, as GSU enjoyed an early 2-0 advantage off a two-run blast over the wall in the top of the fourth.

But like they did in the previous game, the Panthers countered with three runs of their own in the same inning to retake the lead as EIU added two more runs in the fourth for the final margin of victory.

Owens and Cole led the way in the second game behind 2-for-3 performances at the plate, as each secured an RBI.

Five different Panthers were all credited with a run in the win as Willert, Markowski and Hutchinson all secured a stolen base as EIU exhibited aggressive base running throughout the day.

After starting her season season on a bit of a rough note last weekend, Hanna Mennenga returned to prime form in the circle as the reigning OVC 'Pitcher of the Year' earned the complete game victory behind 15 strikeouts. She finished one K shy of tying her career high tally that she trice set last spring, as she fanned just two hits and allowed four walks.

The Panthers once again led GSU in team hitting via an eight-to-two advantage, as the Tigers also committed three more errors in the loss than Eastern.

EIU returns to Mardi Gras Classic play tomorrow evening, as the Panthers will once again face both Louisiana-Monroe and Grambling State in consecutive games, which get underway starting at 5:30 p.m.

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