HAMMOND, La. – Eastern Illinois baseball scored four times in the top of the first inning but managed only one additional run the rest of the way, losing the middle game of its season-opening series at Southeastern Louisiana, 11-5, Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers (0-2) put the leadoff man aboard in seven of the nine innings, yet that baserunner did not come around to score in all seven instances. Eastern left seven men on base, had two runners cut down at third base in the seventh and hit into an inning-ending double play in the fourth.

The first seven EIU batters to come to the plate in the contest had productive at-bats, highlighted by a two-out, two-run single from Alex Gee. The Panthers out hit SELU (2-0), 13-8, but the five EIU pitchers that took the mound combined to issue 10 walks. Six of those baserunners ended up scoring.

Mike Recchia was unable to duplicate his stellar season-opening start in Hammond of a year ago. The junior gave up six runs on five hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings.

The Lions' bullpen performed well after getting called on early. Jordan Hymel and Chris Franklin teamed up for 7 2/3 innings of one-run relief. Franklin, a Preseason All-American closer, worked the final four innings. Eastern was able to plate a run against him in the seventh, but the second and third outs of the inning were recorded on baserunners trying to go first to third on a base hit.

 

The Panthers knocked around SELU's freshman starter Stefan Lopez, chasing him from the game in the top of the second. Of the 11 batters that Lopez faced, nine had productive at-bats. But Hymel pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam without a run scoring in the second and went on to work 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

 

Mike Hoekstra made his first appearance on the mound since March 2008, working an inning and two-thirds of one-hit relief. He retired five of the seven batters he faced, striking out the first and final batter of the fifth. Dillon Roark, Brian Hannig and Rich Ruff all made their EIU debuts out of the bullpen later in the game.

 

Cam Strang, Zach Borenstein, Ben Thoma, Richie Derbak and Shawn Ferguson each collected two hits for the Panthers. Daniel Rowe went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks at the top of the lineup. Thoma delivered run-scoring singles in the first and seventh innings, plating Strang with both hits. Ferguson doubled twice.

Derbak has now hit safely in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season, while Strang has hit in each of the last nine games in which he has batted.

Sunday's series finale is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Brent McNeil (Jr, RHP) is expected to make his EIU debut on the mound.