TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Brett Nommensen homered twice as one of five Panthers to post a multi-hit effort, but Eastern Illinois baseball blew an early four-run lead in a 10-9 loss at Indiana State Tuesday afternoon.

Six EIU pitchers issued a combined 13 free passes – nine walks and four hit batsmen. Six of those baserunners ended up scoring. Indiana State (10-5) scored six times in the fifth inning despite recording only two hits, both singles, during the rally.

 

Nommensen led off the game with a home run for the first time during his career. He later hit a two-run shot in the eighth inning for his multi-homer game as a Panther. Richie Derbak, who went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks to raise his average to .515, is the only other active EIU player with a multi-homer game on his résumé. Derbak (1-2) did suffer the loss in relief on this day though.

Eastern (6-4) tied the game 9-9 with a three-run eighth. But the Sycamores scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame, and ISU closer Matt Shelton (3-1) rebounded from a blown save with a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the game.

Nommensen also doubled in fourth on the way to finishing 3-for-5 with an intentional walk. Zach Skidmore, Jake Samuels and Alex Gee each recorded a pair of hits. Skidmore hit his first home run of the season, and sixth as a Panther, to open the third inning. Samuels doubled and singled in first two at-bats, respectively, to improve to 7-for-10 on the young season. With a left-handed pitcher on the mound in the seventh, he was lifted in favor of Gee, who singled in both of his at-bats.

 

Gee's base hit to left center in the eighth inning tied the game, plating Cam Strang from second base.

 

“I think we swung the bats well again,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “I was happy with Gee jumping in there [after taking over for Samuels]. I was a little disappointed with the way we reacted when things didn't go our way late. You've got to learn to be tough on the road.”

 

ISU's Luke Fieser scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame after reaching on an infield single. He stole second base and took third when Bart Thyer's throw skipped into center field off the Astroturf infield. Brian Jett followed with a single through the left side, giving the Sycamores' the game-deciding run.

 

Mike Martin held his own in his first collegiate start. He pitched into the fifth, giving up only four hits. Three of the runs he was charged with scored after he had given way to the bullpen. However, he did issue six walks.

 

“I'm obviously disappointed about all the freebies,” Schmitz said. “But I'm very excited about Mike Martin. He pitched very well in the wind to some good hitters. He had some walks, too, but I like the way he looked. We don't have a fourth [starter], so he gave us that for now. Right now we've just got to find some middle relief, because we're lacking. Hopefully during spring break that's what we'll do.”

 

Brian Morrell was unable to limit the damage in the fifth. Inheriting a one-out, bases-loaded jam, he issued a walk, gave up a single and walked in another run. The final batter he faced hit a hard comebacker off his foot, allowing the tying run to score on ground out.

 

Josh Wilson was not charged with a run in his inning and a third of relief, but he gave up a two-out, two-run single to the first batter he faced – ISU's No. 9 hitter Pascual Del Real.

 

The Panthers scored in each of first four innings.

 

Already leading 1-0 after Nommensen's leadoff home run, Derbak opened the second inning with base hit to center. He took third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Zach Borenstein.

 

Samuels followed Skidmore's inning-opening homer in the third with a base hit to right center. Derbak and Borenstein also singled in the inning, the freshman collecting another RBI with his base hit through the right side. Derbak trotted home on a sac fly to left from Curt Restko.

 

Nommensen led off the fourth with a double and scored on base hit through the right side by Skidmore.

 

Eastern had the bases loaded with none out in the seventh, but was unable to score. ISU's David Gurbach struck out Ryan Lindquist and then got Restko to hit into a 5-3 double play to end the threat.

 

Gurbach was not as unfortunate an inning later. Ben Thoma reached on an error to begin the inning. Nommensen followed with a blast over the right field fence, his team-leading fourth homer of the season. Strang then drew a walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored easily on Gee's hit off of Shelton.

 

Jordan Kreke followed with a single through the right side, but was cut down between first and second base after the throw intended for third base was cut off. Indiana State then intentionally walked Derbak and retired Lindquist on a fielder's choice to leave the potential go-ahead run at third.

 

Derbak has now hit safely in eight straight games, tying the longest streak of his career.

The Panthers return to action Friday when they open play at the Bulls Baseball Classic, hosted by South Florida in Tampa. Eastern takes on USF at 6 p.m. (CDT) Friday evening.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID