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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois scored in every inning including a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning by Rachel Kaufman as the Panthers beat Morehead State, 15-5, in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.
 
EIU took advantage of some walks and an early Morehead State error as the Panthers jumped in front 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.   Kaufman drove in one run, part of her five RBI day, while Maddie Swart drove in another.
 
Morehead State cut the lead in half in the top of the second taking advantage of a walk and back-to-back hits by Kirya Kingery and Taylor Rhea.  Rhea delivered a two run double to right.  Kingery was the lone Morehead State player with multiple hits going 2-for-2.
 
In the second Hannah Cravens hit her tenth home run of the season to push the Panthers lead back to four runs.  That offense proved to be enough to carry starter Olivia Price through four innings for EIU to improve to 4-3 on the season.
 
EIU tacked on one run in the third and three more in the fourth before setting the stage for a five-run fifth.  Jaylen Prichard had an RBI single to open the fifth before Kaufman cleared the bases with her second home run of the season. 
 
Swart was 3-for-3 at the plate to lead EIU adding a two-run single in the fourth.  Megan Burton was 2-for-4.
 
EIU improved to 14-12 overall, 1-0 in the OVC as the Panthers won their seventh straight game.
 
Morehead State fell to 1-16 overall, 0-1 in the OVC.  Madi Ogden fell to 0-7 with the loss in the circle.