The Eastern softball team split a pair of hard fought games against the Butler Bulldogs at Williams Field.

Game one was a classic pitchers duel that ended with Eastern defeating Butler 2-1 in a nine-inning stunner.

Sophomore ace Stephanie Maday started the game for Eastern and had one of the best performances of her young career. She pitched the full nine innings, striking out a career high 15 batters. She also gave up one run (unearned) and only three hits.

Not surprisingly, Eastern head coach Kim Schuette was extremely proud of her effort on the mound.

“Maday threw an awesome game,” Schuette said. “She was getting ahead and working the zone the entire game. 15 strikeouts and a commanding presence should give her a lot of confidence.”

Butler threw three pitchers in the game who each found success against the Panther lineup. Jenny Esparza was the starter for Butler and ended up pitching four innings while striking out nine Panthers and only allowing one hit.

Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Eastern had an opportunity to win the game with a single, but pinch hitter Ashley Anderton struck out to take the game into the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Eastern would have yet another chance to end the game. They had the bases loaded with their clean up hitting senior center fielder Hayley Pieper coming up to the plate. Pieper was able to work the count full, but ended up striking out to end the inning.

The top of the ninth was a scary inning for Eastern as Butler scored the first run in the ballgame. Junior second baseman Meaghan Sullivan singled to left then promptly stole second, putting herself in scoring position with two outs. Maday was able to get a ground ball to the second baseman Carly Willert, which she ended up bobbling, giving Butler their first lead. Willert would have a chance to redeem herself later in the game.

With only four hits and trailing by one entering the bottom of the ninth inning, things looked very grim for the Panthers. Abby Wood started the inning off well with a pinch-hit single. Carly Willert, whose error allowed Butler to take the lead, redeemed herself in a big way with an infield single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Reynae Hutchinson came to the plate as a pinch hitter and walked to load the bases. Hannah Cole got the call to the plate as the third pinch hitter of the inning and didn’t miss the chance to win the game for Eastern. She roped the ball to the outfield and ended up driving in two runs to win the game with a walk off single.

Stephanie Maday improved her record to 9-6 on the season.

The second game of the doubleheader was another pitchers duel between Eastern and Butler starters that resulted in a 1-0 Butler win.

Sophomore Hanna Mennenga took the mound for the Panthers and pitched one of her best games of the season, going the complete seven innings while only allowing four hits and one unearned run. She also struck out six Bulldog hitters.

Mennenga was matched inning for inning by Butler starter Leah Bry, who also went seven innings while striking out 12 Panther batters and only allowing five hits.

The Panthers downfall came in the top of the fourth inning when Butler freshman outfielder Sarah Gronowski reached on an error. She advanced to second on a hit and run and was driven in on a double by Butler senior Lauren McNulty. That would be the only run Butler needed to win the game.

Even though she did not allow an earned run, Eastern starter Hanna Mennenga picked up the loss on the mound. Her record is now 4-4 for the year.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette was very pleased with Mennenga’s performance, but wishes the end result could have been different.

“I’m glad we won game one for her (Maday) and our team,” Schuette said. “Its just really too bad we didn’t win game two with the way Mennenga threw. She deserves to win with no walks, 6 K’s and only a couple hard hit balls.”

Overall, Schuette thought the pitching staff was great, but said that the offense will need to find ways to win the close games.

“It was a great day for the pitching staff, but its unfortunate for our offense and team,” Schuette said.

“Those games are ones we have to find ways to win with bunts, stolen bases, walks, hit by pitches, and being able to hit a ground ball when needed.”

Eastern now has a 13-13 overall record for the season. Their next game will be the series finale against in-state conference foe Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Thursday at 4 p.m., in Edwardsville.

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