HAMMOND, La. – Eastern Illinois baseball was limited to two runs on five hits as Southeastern Louisiana completed a three-game, season-opening sweep of the Panthers, 7-2, Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (3-0) scored twice in the first inning and retook the lead with another tally in the bottom of the third after EIU (0-3) had tied the game with a two-spot in the top of the frame.

Daniel Rowe went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored at the top of the lineup. The freshman finished his first collegiate series 7-for-12. Cam Strang singled home Rowe in the third inning, hitting safely in a 10th consecutive in which he has batted. However, Richie Derbak saw his 12-game hit streak dating back to last season come to an end.

The Panthers committed three errors, which led to five unearned runs.

Eastern starter Brent McNeil (0-1) gave up only two hits through three innings, but issued six walks. Mike Martin took over on the mound to open the fourth inning. Brian Hannig and Scott Foley both worked an inning of scoreless relief later in the game. For Foley, it was his first appearance since the 2009 spring break trip. Freshman Troy Barton made his collegiate debut in relief, giving up two runs on a hit and three walks.

 

“Overall we're very disappointed with the weekend,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “If you look at all three games, we either had a chance or a lead every day. But it was one area of the game that let us down each game – relief pitching Friday, starting pitching Saturday and today we didn't hit or play defense. It was beautiful weather; a chance to get off on the right foot Friday and we let that get away. I thought we'd come out and do better, win one or two. So I'm disappointed in all phases.

 

“It was great to see Mike [Hoekstra] and Scott back on the mound. In terms of our health, that's exciting. Individually, Danny Rowe did real well in the leadoff spot. That was a big question mark entering the weekend. He just did what we asked – got on base, walked and had a triple today. I'm excited about the pop at the top of the lineup. All the veterans that came back, we talked about stepping up and it can take a few weeks. It was our first weekend outside and the guys were jumping at the ball. So we don't have our swings down.

 

“As for the pitching, there are no excuses. We gave up too many walks after throwing well indoors. It's tough to have a good weekend with that situation. We'll regroup and tweak the lineup by next weekend. Another weekend and we'll have a better idea of where we're at going forward.”

 

Southeastern Louisiana executed five sacrifice bunts in the game, including two in the first inning. The Lions put their leadoff man aboard in each of the first seven innings, four times via a base on balls, eventually plating that baserunner four times.

 

SELU starter Brandon Efferson (1-0) earned a victory against the Panthers for the second year in a row. He worked six innings of two-run ball, retiring nine consecutive hitters to close his outing. Josh Janway closed out the contest with three innings of one-hit relief. In the series, the Lions' bullpen limited EIU to two runs on nine hits over 13 innings. Janway earned a win and a save in the three-game set.

 

Trailing 3-2 entering the fourth, Ben Thoma led off with a double. However, he was cut down between second and third moments later after a comebacker off the bat of Derbak. The Panthers didn't have another hit until Brad Schweigert reached on an infield single with two outs in the ninth.

Eastern also hit into inning-ending double plays in the first and third. Zach Borenstein rolled into a 4-6-3 twin killing with Rowe aboard in the first. Two innings later, Strang was doubled off first base on a Borenstein line drive to third base.

Gerik Wallsten walked to open the third. Rowe followed with a triple to center.

 

Eastern was swept in a three-game series for the first time since a 2008 weekend set at former Ohio Valley Conference rival Samford.

The Panthers return to action Friday when they open a three-game series at Belmont. The first pitch in Nashville, Tenn., is slated for 3 p.m.