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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois softball honored the members of its senior class on Friday and had several of those players contribute as the Panthers swept a doubleheader from Tennessee State.
 
EIU won 5-0 and 7-1 to secure a winning record in the OVC this season as EIU is now 25-18 overall, 16-13 in the OVC.  TSU fell to 8-33 overall, 4-26.
 
In the opener EIU raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings before the contest was delayed 50 minutes due to weather.
 
Amber Cieplinski and Hannah Cravens drove in runs in the first inning while seniors Mia Davis and Haley Mitchell drove home runs in the second.  Davis had a two-run single.
 
Following the delay TSU pitcher Raven Loveless allowed just two hits in the remaining four innings of work.
 
The five runs were more than enough for EIU senior starter Jade Montgomery as she scattered two hits with three strikeouts for the complete game win.  It was her third complete game shutout win in the last four starts.
 
In the second game Montgomery helped lead the offense as she was 3-for-3 at the plate including a pair of solo home runs.  
 
EIU belted out four home runs in the game.  Cieplinski had a two-run shot in the first inning and Megan Burton hit her OVC leading 18th home run in the sixth.
 
Senior Valerie Thompson pitched the final four innings in relief for EIU to pick up the win.
 
TSU scored in the sixth inning with Kayli Mothershed driving home Lauren Farias.