LAFAYETTE, La. - Eastern Illinois softball split the first day of 2018 play at the Mardi Gras Classic in Lafayette, La. The Panthers defeated Iowa in the opening game 4-2 before falling to No. 22 Louisiana 2-1.

Kayla Bear batted first for the Panthers and opened up the first inning vs. Iowa with a base hit to short stop. The Hawkeyes lucked out as Bear was caught leavig first base earlier to tally their first out of the inning. Taylor Monahan and Haley Mitchell each made appearances at the plate following Bear's at bat. Monahan struck out vs. Lauren Shaw who started on the mound for Iowa. Mitchell grounded out the the pitcher to end the inning.

Jessica Wireman started on the mound for the Panthers and was able to hold the Hawkeyes scoreless in the opening inning of play. EIU got on the board quickly in the second inning as Shaw opened the inning walking freshman Megan Burton. Burton advanced to third base following a sac bunt by Mady Poulter and a grounded out by Maria DeVito. Iowa then walked Breya Cooper leading to to a double-steal by Cooper and Burton. Burton was safe sliding into home scoring the Panthers first run of the season.

Wireman pitched another quick inning with three outs in a row and holding Iowa hitless in bottom of the second. Bear, Morgan LaMore, and Burton all scored in the third inning to put them up 4-0 over the Hawkeyes. EIU tallied three hits in the third inning.

Iowa scored two runs in the fourth inning to get on the board. Brooke Rozier recorded a double in the second at bat of the inning. She eventually scored following a double from Mallory Kilian. Kilian tallied Iowa's second run following a fielding error from the Panthers. 

Wireman earned her first win of the season after pitching all seven innings. Bear led the Panthers with three hits. In her first game as a true freshman, Burton tallied a hit, RBI, two walks, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.

Following their win against Iowa, the Panthers played host No. 22 Louisiana for the second game of the Mardi Gras Classic. The Ragin' Cajuns defeated EIU 2-1 with Michelle Rogers going the distance and holding the Ragin' Cajuns to only two runs.

Louisiana scored one run early in the second. Brittany Holland hit a single up the middle to start the inning ultimately scoring on a sac fly to center field by Jolie Readeaux. Brittany Rodriguez would later score for Louisiana in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the win for the Ragin' Cajuns.

The Panthers were held scoreless in the first three innings of play. Mitchell connected on her first homerun of the season to left field to open the fourth inning and scoring the Panthers only run of the game. Freshman Morgan LaMore recorded her first collegiate hit and threw out her first base runner attempting to steal second base. Transfer Breya Cooper also tallied her first hit in a Panther uniform.

The Panthers will open day two of the Mardi Gras classic tomorrow vs. Samford at 9 am. They will then have a chance to even the playing field with a rematch vs. ULL at 2 pm.