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

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Eastern Illinois softball opened Charleston Southern Tournament action with a Friday (Feb. 28) split, as the Panthers downed Appalachian State, 2-1, but dropped a tough 5-4 loss to the host Buccaneers. The Panthers move to 10-6 on the early-season.

For the day, seniors Reynae Hutchinson and Brooke Owens, as well as junior Hannah Cole, all tallied a .429 bat mark between identical 3-for-7 plate performances as Cole and Hutchinson nabbed three RBIs in the split.

Team-wise, EIU hit .256 overall, while the opposition earned just a .188 bat mark.

In the early-morning win over the Mountaineers (3-10), the Panthers got on board first in the opening frame as Jennette Isaac scored off an RBI shot by Hannah Cole. EIU would maintain the lead for four additional innings before Appalachian State tied it in the top of the sixth behind a fielder's choice RBI.

The Panthers would counter with their own run in the same sixth inning as Reynae Hutchinson delivered the game-winning RBI down the left field line to plate Brooke Owens from second base.

The Mountaineers threatened once more in the top of the seventh, but key defensive plays helped the Panthers earn the win as ASU left a bases loaded scenario.

Senior Hanna Mennenga earned the complete first game as she delivered nine strikeouts, while fanning a pair of hits and allowing two walks. In fact, she got EIU out of a couple of jams in both the second and sixth innings with key strikeouts.

Hutchinson led all Panther hitters in the first game with her 2-for-3 plate performance, while Bailey O'Dell and Haylee Beck both put down perfect sac bunts. Team-wise, both teams secured a double-play, while EIU left four runners on base as compared to seven for the Mountaineers.

In the second game loss, EIU once again enjoyed an early 2-0 lead as Hutchinson drilled a two-RBI double to score Cole and Isaac in the top of the first. However, the host squad (8-7-1) countered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame behind consecutive doubles.

A two-out, two-run homerun by Cole would help the Panthers retake the lead at 4-3 in the top of the third, as Eastern maintained the advantage until the sixth, as CSU used a two-run double to ultimately secure the comeback victory.

Senior Stephanie Maday was tabbed for the complete game loss in the circle as she struck out four and walked just one batter. She falls to 4-3 overall with the defeat.

Owens and Cole both finished with 2-for-4 marks at the plate in the nightcap, as Cole lead the scoring behind her two runs and tied Hutchinson with a stolen base.

Neither squad committed an error in the contest, as EIU ended up stranding seven runners in the loss, while the tourney hosts left five runners on base.

Weekend tourney action continues on Saturday (March 1), as the Panthers first face Colgate in an early 8 a.m. matchup. Pool play will commence at noon, with the No. 1-No. 4 Seeds in action, followed by a 2 p.m. battle between the No. 2-No. 3 Seeds.

Sunday consolation and championship action will then take place on Sunday (March 2) between the respective pool play winners and losers, starting at noon.

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