Boxscore (PDF)

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Eastern lllinois softball held on for a 7-6 mid-week road victory over in-state rival Southern Illinois on Wednesday (April 9) afternoon as the Panthers improve to 27-11 on the season.

The win marks the second straight EIU victory over for the Salukis (17-18) after the Panthers run-ruled SIU at home last season.

Team-wise, Eastern doubled-up the hosts in hit, 10-to-five, but also committed two more errors.

After SIU took the 1-0 lead in the first inning, EIU jumped ahead 3-1 thanks to an RBI shot from sophomore April Markowski  and a two-run blast by senior Reynae Hutchinson in the second and third frames, respectively.

SIU would pull to within 3-2 of EIU in their half of the third, but Eastern plated two more runs in the fourth and fifth, with junior Bailey O'Dell ultimately credited with the eventual game-winning squeeze play sac bunt RBI, which led to a Saluki error and brought home senior pinch-runner Kaylie Pruett from third.

The Salukis would threaten as the home squad scored two additional runs to make things interesting heading to the seventh frame, but EIU would survive the scare and pick up the squads' fourth straight win.

Senior Stephanie Maday earned the win in the circle, moving to 11-5 overall, as the reigning OVC 'Pitcher of the Year' threw for just over four innings, registering a strikeout but also allowing five walks but just three earned runs.

Newcomer Hannah Rachor nabbed her first career save in a Panther uniform as she came in for just over two-innings of relief, fanning and walking one batter each while allowing only one solo homer.

Junior Hannah Cole and Markowski led the Panther offensive with respective 2-for-3 plate performances.

Sophomore Jennette Isaac added to her Ohio Valley Conference-leading hitting streak of 18, as she delivered a two-RBI shot.

Panthers will now prepare for a three-game weekend OVC series versus fellow West Division rival UT Martin, with an upcoming Saturday twinbill and Sunday single game set for 1 p.m. each day at Williams Field.

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