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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern Illinois softball split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon at Southeast Missouri as the Panthers were shutout in the opener 3-0 before rallying to win the second game 5-1.
 
In the opener SEMO starter Paytience Holman was sharp as she scattered just two EIU hits for the complete game shutout.  EIU's hits were by Denaed Santini and Katie Nicholson.
 
SEMO provided Holman (5-5) all the run support she would need with two in the third inning.  Alyson Tucker hit a solo home run to lead off the inning and Jillian Anderson scored on a sacrifice bunt.
 
Ashley Ellis had an RBI single in the sixth off EIU starter Jade Montgomery (6-7) who only allowed six hits in the game with striking out five batters.
 
In the second game of the day, EIU again found the long ball as the Panthers had three home runs in the win.
 
Trailing 1-0, Mia Davis tied the game with a two out home run in the sixth.  Haley Mitchell followed with another solo shot to give EIU a 2-1 lead against Rachel Rook (11-6). 
 
Megan Burton would have a two-run home run in the seventh for her 11th home run of the season.  Davis, Mitchell and Burton all currently rank on the EIU career top ten home run list.
 
McKinlee Miller scored EIU's other run in the game after she stole second base and advanced home on a throwing error. 
 
Olivia Price (7-3) picked up the win while Montgomery closed out the last two innings for the save.
 
Burton and Hannah Cravens both had two hits for EIU in the second game.
 
EIU's win in the second game snapped a 12-game win streak by SEMO.  EIU is now 17-10 overall, 10-6 in the OVC.  SEMO is 17-11 overall, 13-2 in the OVC.