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

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois senior pitcher Stephanie Maday earned her second career no-hitter as Panther softball swept visiting Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State, 8-1 and 14-0 (5-inn.), at Williams Field on Sunday (April 6) afternoon.

Maday earned her no-no performance by fanning ten of the 16 Eagles faced at the plate, while allowing just one walk in the five-inning nightcap victory.  The win also marked her fourth shutout of the season as she moves to 10-5 overall in the circle.

She previously registered a no-hitter during her freshman campaign as she picked up another run-rule home victory, this time over Tennessee State, back in 2011.

"I am very proud of Steph and her performance, not only in today's win but over the course of the weekend," said EIU head coach Angie Nicholson.  "She was really in command of her pitches both days, so it was really nice to see her take charge and throw with such confidence.

"It was also good to see the whole squad hit the ball well today and to continue to run aggressively on the bases.  We need to see this type of performance each time we step onto the field, as I know that this is how we are truly capable of performing day in and day out."

In the opening 8-1 victory, fellow senior Hanna Mennenga also pitched a nice contest, as she registered nine strikeouts for the complete game win to improve to 15-4 on the season as she allowed just four hits and gave up a solo home run for the lone Morehead State score all day.

The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second frame as junior Bailey O'Dell hit a perfectly placed bunt in front of home plate to bring home senior Reynae Hutchinson, who had previously singled before moving to third base thanks to a double by sophomore April Markowski.

A ground-out RBI by sophomore Haylee Beck would then bring home Markowski, as classmate Jennette Isaac delivered an RBI single to left field to score O'Dell.  Senior Carly Willert then gave EIU their four run, plating Isaac off her RBI shot to center field.

Eastern would add to their lead in the fourth as Willert ripped a two-RBI single to right field to bring around both Beck and senior pinch-runner Kaylie Pruett.

After the visiting Eagles (7-21-1/3-7) got on board with a solo homer in the top of the fifth, the Panthers would tack on two more runs in their half of the frame as senior Brooke Owens blasted her own walk-up solo bomb over the centerfield fence and newcomer Amber Toenyes delivered a sac fly RBI to score Hutchinson.

EIU would out-hit the Eagles, 13-4, in the opener, as Willert also nailed a triple, going 3-for-4 at the plate.  Isaac, Hutchinson, Markowski, O'Dell, and Pruett all secured stolen bases as well in the first game win.

In the nightcap rout, the Panthers scored three times in the first, four in the second and then erupted for seven runs in the fourth frame for the margin of victory.

Highlights included Isaac and Toenyes both hitting a perfect 2-for-2  at the plate as Isaac continued to add to her OVC-leading hit streak as she has now hit safely in her last 17 games.

Toenyes, meanwhile, delivered an RBI double plus a three-run home run to register a four-RBI day.  Her two-out blast to center marked her first homer in a Panther uniform.

Team-wise, EIU drilled nine hits and took advantage of four Morehead State errors in the win.

With the Sunday sweep, the Panthers have now won 11 straight over the Eagles in the all-time series.

EIU will now prepare for a mid-week single-game at instate rival Southern Illinois on Wednesday, with a 4 p.m. start down in Carbondale.  The Panthers will then return home next weekend, hosting OVC West Division foe UT Martin in a three-game series.

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