BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Eastern Illinois softball swept day two of tournament play in the Runnin' Bulldog Tournament. The Panthers shut out host Gardner-Webb 9-0 and beat Western Carolina 3-1. EIU improves to 5-3 overall.

In the first game of today's play vs. Gardner-Webb, Michelle Rogers played three innings on the mound for EIU and recorded her second straight win improving to 2-2 on the season. Freshman pitcher Valerie Thompson saw two innings on the mound.

Six of the Panthers nine runs came in the first two innings. Kayla Bear, Mady Poulter, and Megan Burton each recorded hits in the first inning with Bear and Poulter scoring for EIU.

In the top of the second inning, Michelle Rogers, Bear, and Poulter all reached first base off three consecutive errors by Gardner-Webb's second baseman. Rogers scored an unearned run followed by Bear who scored off a grounded out by Haley Mitchell. Mia Davis stepped up to the plate with Poulter still on base for EIU. She hit her first career home run to left center tallying two RBIs. The Panthers led 6-0 at the end of the inning.

Mitchell hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to secure the Panthers 9-0 win over the Bulldogs. Mitchell finished the game with a team-leading five RBIs.
Bear and Poulter each scored three runs for the Panthers. Davis was 2-for-2 at the plate while Poulter was 2-for-3.

The Panthers defeated Western Carolina for the second time in the Runnin' Bulldog Tournament Saturday afternoon. EIU won 3-1 taking a 2-0 lead in their all-time series match-up.

EIU recorded eight hits in the game with four doubles. Mitchell, Morgan LaMore, and Breya Cooper each finished with two hits. Mitchell recorded two doubles in the match up while LaMore and Cooper each has one.

The Panthers first run of the game was unearned in the top of the second. Cooper scored on a pitching error giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Mitchell scored in the top of third inning following a double from Cooper. EIU's final run came in the top of the fifth inning as Burton scored on LaMore's double to left field.

Jessica Wireman pitched a complete game for EIU and improved to 4-0 on the season. She struck out 13 batters only allowing three hits from WCU.