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VICKSBURG, Miss. – Eastern Illinois softball made its long awaited debut for the 2021 season as the Panthers swept a pair of games against Jackson State on Sunday afternoon at Sports Force Park in Vicksburg, Miss.

EIU won 7-0 and 9-1 (in six innings) on Sunday with solid pitching efforts and six home runs leading the offensive attack.

In the opener Jade Montgomery worked 5.2 innings scattering three hits as the senior picked up the win. 

The Panthers provide Montgomery the only offense she would need in the third as Megan Burton led off with a double before Haley Mitchell drove her home for the 1-0 lead.  Mitchell would strike again to lead off the seventh, as she hit her 27th career home run to tie Denee' Menzione for first on the Panthers career charts.

Mia Davis would follow Mitchell's blast with one of her own going 2-for-4 on the day and connecting for one of three EIU home runs in the opener.  Hannah Cravens had a solo shot in the sixth, one of two home runs she would deliver on the day.

Burton was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases joining Davis as the EIU leaders for hits in the opener.  Kayla Owens took the loss for JSU as all three Tigers hits were singles.

In the nightcap, EIU jumped out early on JSU starter Macie Kippenbender as they scored five runs in 1.2 innings.

Davis started the big inning with a double followed by three walks in the inning that set the bases loaded for Burton.  The junior shortstop connected for a grand slam as EIU led 5-0 early in the contest.

Freshman Olivia Price got the start for the Panthers allowing one unearned run.  Sydney Cammon worked 3.2 innings of one hit relief for the win.

The Panthers added to the long ball total in the fourth with a solo home run by Abi Stahlhut and Cravens second home run of the day in the fifth. 

Burton tacked on an RBI double in the sixth and came around to score on an RBI single by Mitchell as EIU picked up the run-rule decision after six.  Burton was 2-of-4 with five RBI in the second game.  Davis was 2-for-4.

JSU had just two hits in the second game coming off the bat of Owens and Zoey Keyes.