Boxscore (PDF)

JACKSON, Miss. – Eastern Illinois softball earned an 8-3 win over the host Tiger squad, as the Panthers opened Jackson State Tournament action on Friday (Feb. 21) afternoon to improve to 7-4 on the season.

"It was a rather ugly win today, but we'll take it," said first year EIU head coach Angie Nicholson. "Especially since we stranded 10 base runners off 13 hits.

"Yet we did a great job of picking ourselves up following our mistakes and not dwelling on them," she added. "We were able to stay focused on what we needed to do to win."

Junior Bailey O'Dell led the Panther bats with a perfect 4-for-4 plate appearance, as sophomore Jennette Isaac and newcomer Hannah Rachor followed with respective 3-for-4 and 2-for-4 marks.

O'Dell and Rachor joined sophomore April Markowski and junior Hannah Cole with doubles in the win, as senior Ashleigh Westover led the way with a trio of RBIs.

With the game tied at 1-1 through three innings, the Panthers erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth to blow the game open.

An RBI double by Markowski, a sac fly RBI from Rachor, plus Westover's two-RBI shot to center field, and senior Brooke Owens' two-RBI double to left center helped EIU take the 7-1 advantage.

JSU (4-7) would add another run in the bottom of the fourth via an EIU miscue to pull to 7-2 of the Panthers, but with the bases loaded, a Tiger pitch would graze Westover to account for another RBI in the top of the fifth.

JSU added one final score in their last frame for the final score.

Pitcher Hanna Mennenga earned the complete game, behind three stikeouts and five walks, while scattering six JSU hits and allowing two earned runs. The senior improves to 3-1 in the circle.

Eight different Panthers crossed home plate in the victory, while aggressive base running by sophomore Haylee Beck and Isaac helped the two secure a stolen base in the victory.

Panthers return to tourney action tomorrow morning with a 10 a.m. contest versus Kansas, prior playing Southeastern Louisiana in the 7:30 p.m. Saturday nightcap.

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