CHARLESTON, Ill. – Jacksonville State scored more runs (eight) against Eastern Illinois baseball's Mike Recchia in four innings than the sophomore pitcher had surrendered for the season entering the day, and won the rubber game of the Ohio Valley Conference series, 10-5, Sunday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.

For the third straight year, the Gamecocks (22-14, 7-5 OVC) won the series by winning games two and three after EIU took the opener. The Panthers (27-8, 10-3 OVC), meanwhile, have suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

Jacksonville State scored a run in four straight innings in the middle of the contest. Eastern finally responded with a four-spot in the seventh, but JSU closer Bill Henke retired all six batters he faced to finish off the game.

The Panthers had its first batter of an inning reach safely in six straight frames, but could not capitalize until the seventh. Eastern hit into three double plays and left nine runners on base.

Recchia (6-1) gave up eight runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings, suffering his first loss of the season. Jordan Kreke pitched three innings of scoreless relief, but saw his streak of consecutive batters retired end at 20 on a leadoff single in the ninth.

 

“I thought after they threw behind [Jordan] Tokarz yesterday (in game two with EIU leading 2-0) everything changed,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “They got into [Tyler] Kehrer's head and we went out and gave up three runs. We didn't pitch well, but we've got to learn to comeback when we're down a little bit. We didn't respond well at all. This team has done everything I've asked them to do, other than comeback when there's a deficit. They got into Recchia's head today by stealing bases.

 

“They kind of exposed some stuff about our team. We don't come in a lot and pitch [inside]. I let Kreke pitch in and he got everybody out. It's a good and a bad, the bad is how we responded. I don't think we played like a champion. That's a word we've been using this year. But they exposed some of our weaknesses, and sometimes when you keep talking to your team about that stuff, they don't listen until they get exposed.”

The contest featured seven errors and a wild end to the bottom of the seventh inning. Josh Wilson stole second base but was eventually caught in a rundown between second and third. However, prior to the out, JSU catcher Andrew Edge hit his pitcher in the back with the throw, allowing Cam Strang to score from third base.

 

The Panthers used 18 players in the game. Only Ryan Lindquist and Tokarz played the entire game at the positions in which they started. Lindquist made a highlight-reel caliber diving catch in left-center to rob Jake Sharrock of an extra-base hit in the ninth inning.

 

Blake Seguin and Daniel Adamson led JSU with three hits apiece. Seguin came around to score after reaching safely in each of his first three plate appearances. Jacksonville State scored three two-out runs in both the third and fourth innings.

 

Left-hander Tanner Freshour (2-2) earned the victory with 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Right-hander Malcolm Thomas started the game but gave way to Freshour after only one inning.

 

Zach Borenstein, Tokarz and Kreke each recorded two hits to lead the way for EIU. Tokarz also scored twice. He finished the three-game series 7-for-13 with five runs scored.

 

Tokarz and Chris Ulrey registered back-to-back singles to open the seventh and ignite the four-run rally. Kreke and Strang both singled home a run, and Lindquist drew a walk to load the bases. Ben Thoma pinch hit for Curt Restko and worked the count full against laboring freshman reliever Chase Smith. Thoma eventually hit a ground ball to shortstop. Seguin bobbled the flip from Sharrock, but the umpire ruled the out had already been recorded at second. Wilson pinch ran for Thoma with Evan Zalders at the plate. The inning-ending chaos ensued after Wilson broke for second on the stolen base attempt.

 

Jake Samuels knocked in EIU's first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center in the first inning, which plated Tokarz.

 

The Panthers had the bases loaded with one out in the fourth, but Freshour got Bart Thyer to ground into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. However, it was already an 8-1 lead for the visitors at that juncture.

 

Smith took over with two on and one out in the sixth, and immediately got Borenstein to hit into a 4-6-3 twin killing.

The Panthers continue their 10-game homestand with three upcoming midweek contests. Tuesday's game against Saint Louis is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID