CHARLESTON, Ill. – Indiana State belted two home runs, took advantage of three Eastern Illinois errors and held on for a 6-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Williams Field in Charleston on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Indiana State (12-20) compiled double-digit hits for the first time in six games as Brooke Mann tied a season-high three hits. That included her fifth home run of the season and 15^th of her career, moved her into a tie for third all-time at ISU in career home runs.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Mann drove in the tying run with a single down the left field line that plated Shaye Barton from third. After two Panther errors allowed two Sycamore runs to score in the fifth, Mann hit her solo shot in the sixth to extend the Sycamore lead to 4-1.
 
Amanda Guercio would provide crucial insurance runs in the seventh inning as she hit a two-run shot to deep center making it a 6-1 game. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Eastern Illinois (10-28) rallied. A leadoff hit then a Sycamore error gave the Panthers two runners before a fly ball to right provided the first out. Two batters later and a fielder's choice later, a double to center drove in two runs and a single immediately followed to plate one more run, cutting Indiana State's lead to 6-4.
 
Down to their final out, EIU drew a walk then a wild pitch gave the hosts runners at second and third. But Arielle Blankenship (1) claimed her first save of the season by catching EIU's final batter frozen in her tracks with a strikeout looking. Blankenship issued one walk, allowed one hit and fanned one batter in the save. Gabbi Schnaiter (6-8) claimed the win after allowing four runs – two earned – on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
 
Jade Montgomery (4-14) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks in six innings. Haley Mitchell led EIU with a 2-for-3 performance while Mia Davis was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
With a 3-for-4 performance at the plate including her fifth home run of the game, Brooke Mann easily lays claim to this honor. Mann drove in two runs, had a pair of singles in addition to her solo home run and also stole a base.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Brooke Mann's solo home run marked her fifth home run of the season – and fifth solo home run of the season. All five of her dingers this season have been solo shots.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Gabbi Schnaiter, Indiana State (6-8)
• Loss: Jade Montgomery, Eastern Illinois (4-14)
• Save: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (1)

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 12-20 (4-11 Away)
• Eastern Illinois: 10-28 (1-4 Home)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 30-45 all-time against Eastern Illinois. The teams have evenly split the last four meetings.
• Brooke Mann hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season. All five of her home runs this year to date have been solo shots.
• Mann's home run gives her 15 career home runs, moving into a tie for third all-time at Indiana State alongside Bailey Wittenauer (2009-11).
• Mann threw out a runner in the game marking her Missouri Valley Conference-leading 12^th runner caught stealing.
• Amanda Guercio hit her third home run of the season with a two-run shot.
• Brooke Mann stole her first base of the year.
• Shaye Barton scored two runs in the game to mark her 85^th and 86^th career runs scored. She ranks ninth all-time at Indiana State in runs scored.

 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Softball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.