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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Megan Burton set the Eastern Illinois single season record for home runs on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers opened a weekend Ohio Valley Conference series at Jacksonville State.
 
JSU would rally in both games to beat EIU 10-8 in the opener and 8-3 in the second game.   The final game of the series will take place on Sunday afternoon.
 
Burton opened the day hitting a solo home run, her 12th of the year, to tie the school record.  She would etch her name in the single season record books in the fourth as she connected for a three run shot.
 
Aniya Holt added her second RBI of the game in the frame and EIU led 7-2 after the top of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fourth JSU scored six runs to take the lead.  Shelby Newsome started the rally with a two run single.  Alexus Jimmerson continued with a two-run double before Chaney Phillips capped the scoring with another two-run double.
 
The Gamecocks added two insurance runs in the sixth which proved important as Amber Cieplinski had an RBI single in the seventh to get EIU within striking distance.
 
In the second game, EIU again jumped out to an early lead as they scored three runs in the top of the first to chase JSU's starting pitcher from the contest.  Cieplinski had an RBI single with Hannah Cravens adding a two-run double.
 
Cravens picked up the start in the circle for EIU and pitched two innings and left with a 3-2 lead.  JSU's offense would come in the fourth with a two-run single by Newsome and RBI double by Jimmerson as the Gamecocks scored four in the inning.  Newsome added an insurance solo home run in the sixth.
 
Jimmerson picked up the win in the circle for JSU as she allowed just one hit after entering in the top of the first inning in relief. 
 
EIU is now 19-14 overall, 11-9 in the OVC.  JSU is 15-19 overall, 13-9 in the OVC.