EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Curt Restko delivered a walk-off single with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, lifting Eastern Illinois baseball to a 7-6 victory versus Butler Saturday afternoon on day two of the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic.

Daniel Bracken scored the game-winning run in his first collegiate action. The freshman came on as a pinch runner for Ben Thoma after he doubled with one out in the ninth. Cam Strang and Ryan Lindquist both drew walks in front of Restko, who singled to right to end the game.

Eastern (3-2) starter Tyler Kehrer struck out a career-high 12 and surrendered just one hit in only five innings. Twelve of the 15 outs he recorded came via the strikeout. The performance is believed to be the most Ks by an EIU pitcher since 2001. However, he issued six walks, running up his pitch count and ending his day early.

 

Richie Derbak (1-1) pitched out of jams in both eighth and ninth innings. He record back-to-back strikeouts with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth. After giving up consecutive one-out hits and throwing a wild pitch in the ninth, he retired Butler's No. 2 and 3 hitters with a groundout to third and fly ball to left.

 

While EIU pitchers recorded 16 strikeouts in the win, Butler (1-2) recorded only one K of a Panther.

Jordan Tokarz collected a pair of singles to extend his career-best hitting streak to 11 games dating back to last season. Thoma, Lindquist and Restko also had two hits.

 

Gerik Wallsten made his third consecutive start behind the plate and delivered a run-scoring double in EIU's three-run sixth. The Panthers entered the frame trailing 3-2.

“We didn't swing the bats well, but it was that kind of day. The weather made it not a good day to do much, and the pitcher was the only guy that was warm. Hopefully it will be warmer this week as we start playing more on a consistent basis.”

 

Eastern also scored twice in the first, and once in the seventh and ninth.

 

The Panthers sent nine men to the plate in their three-run sixth. Thoma ignited the rally with a leadoff walk and EIU caught a break when the Butler shortstop misplayed Strang's subsequent ground ball. While trying to move both runners up with a bunt, Lindquist reached safely and bother runners scored when the pitcher threw the ball away. Restko bunted Lindquist to third before Wallsten doubled down the left field line. Brett Nommensen singled and Zach Skidmore drew a walk, but the Bulldogs escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam.

 

Eastern tacked on an additional run in the seventh. Thoma led off with a single, moved up on a grounder to first base, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI groundout to shortstop off the bat of Lindquist.

 

However, Butler tied the game with a three-run eighth. The first three batters of the inning reached against Kreke thanks to a single, walk and error. A sacrifice fly plated the first run of the inning. Eastern brought in Ryan Green to face the left-handed hitting Kyle Schultz, who won the battle and knocked in a pair of runs with a single to center.

 

Derbak allowed the first two batters he faced to reach, loading the bases. But he battled back and struck out the No. 6 and 7 hitters to end the inning.

 

Eastern jumped out to an early lead after Nommensen and Tokarz drew back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the first. Alex Gee plated Nommensen with a single through the right side and Tokarz scored on Thoma's subsequent ground ball to third base.

 

The Panthers conclude play at Evansville's four-team tournament Sunday with a 3 p.m. game against the host Purple Aces.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID