CHARLESTON, Ill. – Freshman Stacye Toups tossed a complete game shutout as Eastern Kentucky won the first game of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader, 4-0, over Eastern Illinois. The Panthers (20-23, 12-8 OVC) won the second game, 9-5, on Saturday in Charleston, Ill. The Colonels (27-20, 16-10 OVC) took the early lead in game two, but couldn’t overcome a nine-run second inning by EIU.

It was all Toups (10-6) in the first game as the freshman scattered six hits and struck out seven batters. After a lead-off single in the first inning, Toups struck out the side.

Jena Handley got EKU on the board in the second with an RBI single down the left field line. Two batters later Pam Webber made it a 2-0 game with a run scoring double down the left field line.

Toups struck out the first batter in the second inning to make it four straight strike outs. With a runner on second and two outs in the fourth, Toups struck out Karyn Mackie to end the threat.

RBI doubles by Shyenne Hussey and Erin Luther in the fifth inning allowed Eastern Kentucky to double its lead. EIU had two runners on and one out in the bottom of the fifth when Toups struck out Melinda Jackson and induced an inning-ending ground ball to douse any hopes of a Panther comeback. Toups retired six of the final seven batters she faced.

Hussey finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Luther also went 2-for-3.

In game two, back-to-back doubles by Chanze Patterson and Amber Lenz to begin the game led to an early 1-0 Colonel lead.

Eastern Kentucky held Eastern Illinois scoreless in six of the seven innings. Unfortunately in the only inning in which the Panthers scored, they platted nine runs. Jackson’s single through the right side scored a pair of runs and made it a 4-1 game. After Sarah Coppert and Robyn Mackie each drove in a run with a single, Kiley Holtz went deep with two runners on to cap the nine-run inning.

The Colonels got two runs back in the third on Handley’s seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left-center field fence. Patterson’s sacrifice fly in the sixth cut the deficit to 9-4 heading into the final inning.

The first two EKU batters in the seventh reached on a double and a single. Katie Rolf followed with a fly ball, but it was deep enough to score Adriel Foxley and make it a 9-5 game. Eastern Kentucky had two runners on when Webber grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Coppert went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI for the Panthers. Jackson finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Holtz went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. EIU totaled 13 hits.

Foxley and Webber both finished 3-for-4 for EKU.

The Colonels and the Panthers will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.