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

CONWAY, S.C. – Eastern Illinois softball improved to 15-6 overall, as the Panthers picked up respective 1-0 and 2-0 shutouts over Bryant and Furman at the rain-shortened Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Challenge on Sunday (March 9).

EIU utilized the long ball to pick up the two victories as sophomore April Markowski and senior Brooke Owens each delivered game-winning home runs on the day.

In the first game shutout of the Bears, Markowski smashed a shot over the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the second frame to account for the margin of victory.

Owens, meanwhile, drilled her own two-run blast over the same spot in the top of the first frame to also plate classmate Carly Willert.

The senior pitching duo of Stephanie Maday and Hanna Mennenga shined in the circle for EIU as Maday improved to 5-3 on the season with the complete game shutout of Bryant and Mennenga now owns a 9-1 record following her blanking of Furman.

The two combined for 13 total strikeouts as Maday retired nine Bryant batters via strikes, behind zero walks and allowing just three hits. Mennenga, meanwhile, added four Ks of her own with only one walk and limited the Paladins to a single hit.

Team-wise, the Panthers delivered 12 total hits on the day, while allowing just four base hits. Markowski led the way for EIU with a 3-for-4 plate performance overall, followed by Willert's 3-for-7 mark.

Junior Bailey O'Dell added a double as seven different players earned at least one hit in the two-game sweep. Seniors Morgan Biel, Reynae Hutchinson and Kaylie Pruett, along with junior Hannah Cole, all secured a stolen base on the day.

Following complete tourney play, a trio of EIU players represented the Panthers on the All-Tournament squad, as senior pitchers Maday and Mennenga joined sophomore Markowski with weekend recognition.

Eastern will finish up the spring break South Carolina road swing tomorrow and Tuesday, as the Panthers are set to face CCU in a scheduled Monday noon doubleheader, followed by a 1 p.m. twinbill at East Carolina the next afternoon.

Chanticleer Challenge All-Tournament Team
Bri Chiusano, Coastal Carolina
Kory Hayden, Coastal Carolina
Kiana Quolas, Coastal Carolina
Stephanie Maday, Eastern Illinois
April Markowski, Eastern Illinois
Hanna Mennenga, Eastern Illinois
Sara Borders, Jacksonville State
Tiffany Harbin, Jacksonville State
Taylor West, Jacksonville State
Sieara Bishop, Furman
Lauren Collier, Furman
Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State
Elle Madsen, Bryant

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