The 2012 Eastern softball team was very active over break, playing a total of nine games in nine days, while managing to bring its record up to .500 (10-10).

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette was prepared for a great week of softball that would also help build team chemistry.

“Spring break for us is a great time to eat, sleep and play softball,” Schuette said. “Its a great time to spend with the team and each other. We play a lot of games and spend 10 days together, both of which help us grow as a team.”

In the Panthers most recent action, they took on the Morehead State Eagles in a weekend series in Morehead, Ky.

On Saturday’s action, Eastern’s pitching would carry them to victory. They entered the weekend with an 8-10 record, to go along with a conference record of 0-3.

Eastern won both contests on Saturday, the first game being won 5-0, and the second victory coming in a 3-1 game.

For the first series game, ace pitcher Stephanie Maday led Eastern to the victory with a brilliant performance on the mound. The sophomore right hander threw a complete game shutout in which she only gave up six hits. She also handed out 10 strikeouts and walked no one. Maday picked up her sixth win of the season as her record improved to 6-5 on the season.

Freshman shortstop Bailey O’Dell continued her hit parade as she finished the game with two hits and two RBIs. First baseman Reynae Hutchinson also had a very productive game at the plate, going two for three with two RBIs.

The second game of the series was an exciting game that ended with a 3-1 Panther victory. Sophomore Hanna Mennenga got the start on the mound and went 3.1 innings while giving up no runs on two hits. Maday relieved her and finished the remainder of the game. Maday gave up one run on one hit and three walks.

The Panthers were led at the plate by all OVC first teamer Melise Brown. Brown went three-for-four with a run scored.

The last series game against Morehead State was canceled due to inclement weather.

The Panthers’ spring break was very productive week for them, even though they didn’t start it off with a bang.

In Eastern’s first OVC league action over the weekend of March 10-11, Jacksonville State swept the series with strong pitching and good defense.

The Panthers’ offense struggled to get anything going against the pitching of Jacksonville State, as the team lost some tough games (2-5, 1-7, 0-5).

Maday went 0-2 against Jacksonville State, even though in 10 plus innings of work her ERA was only 2.71.

The Panthers then traveled to Huntsville, Ala., last Tuesday to take on Savannah State and Alabama A&M.

In its first game against Savannah State, Eastern really had its bats rolling and ended the game with an 8-3 victory in five innings.

O’Dell and Brown would once again lead Eastern at the plate. O’Dell had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored in the victory. Brown also had two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

Against Alabama A&M, the story was quite similar. Great hitting and good pitching once again led Eastern to victory (8-0).

O’Dell had the hot bat, as she went two-for-two with four RBI’s and two runs scored. She would also hit her third homerun of the year in the win.

Sophomore Brooke Owens also had a strong day at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored.

On Wednesday, the Panthers would travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Middle Tennessee State for a doubleheader in what would be their last games before their conference series with Morehead State.

In the first game against Middle Tennessee State, Mennenga pitched a brilliant game in which she only gave up one run in seven innings pitched. She also had eight strikeouts. The Panthers ended up winning the game 2-1.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Panthers lost 2-3 in a heartbreaker. Maday got the start for Eastern and gave up three runs (two earned) in 6.2 innings pitched.

Eastern’s offense would have no answer for Middle Tennessee State’s pitching, though, as they only got five hits.

Eastern is now 10-10 this season with a 2-3 conference record.

Erik Jensen can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]