Boxscore (PDF)

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball finished up season-opening weekend play at the Rosemont Rumble on Sunday (Feb. 9) morning, as the Panthers dropped a 9-3 contest to Western Illinois.

The loss moves Eastern to 2-3 on the early-season.

"It was a tough loss today," said EIU head coach Angie Nicholson. "It was one of those days where we hit the ball hard but right at them, while they made some really nice plays and found every hole they could have."

Sophomore April Markowski led EIU with a 2-for-3 plate performance, including a two RBI triple and a double.

Senior Reynae Hutchinson also went 2-for-3 on the day, while classmate Carly Willert added her own RBI double.

Senior Janele Robinson was tabbed for the loss in the circle off 4 1/3 innings of work. She retired four Leathernecks via strikes and had zero walks, but also fanned eight WIU hits en route to five earned runs. She now sports an even 1-1 mark in the early season.

WIU (3-0) took the early 1-0 lead in the first frame then added another run in the fourth, before erupting for a 9-0 advantage with three and four scores in their fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

Fortunately the Panthers would avoid the mercy rule shutout as Markowski's blasted a triple to centerfield to plate newcomer Hannah Rachor and senior Kaylie Pruett in the bottom of the sixth, while Willert also brought home sophomore Jennette Isaac via a double in the seventh for the final EIU scores.

For the opening weekend of action, senior Brooke Owens led all Panthers off a .400 batting average and six runs, followed by Willert's .353 mark with six runs of her own and three RBI, as she delivered two doubles, a triple and homer.

Junior Hannah Cole also touched home six times over the weekend and led all players with a six RBI weekend.

Pitching-wise, Stephanie Maday joined Robinson at 1-1 mark in the circle, and led the EIU pitching staff with a 1.91 ERA, as the two seniors combined for 19 total Ks.

Easten will now prepare for next weekend's (Feb. 14-16) Louisiana-Monroe Mardi Gras Classic, as the Panthers are set to play the host squad and Grambling twice, while also facing Houston Baptist.

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