NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a wild 10-inning game that featured a combined 23 runs and 12 errors, Belmont scored in the bottom of the 10th to complete a three-game series sweep of Eastern Illinois baseball, 12-11, Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers (0-6) scored seven times in the seventh through ninth innings to extend the contest. Gerik Wallsten delivered a three-run double in the eighth and Shawn Ferguson plated the game-tying run with a two-out RBI single in the ninth.

But two infield singles, two errors and a walk allowed Belmont (6-0) to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th. It was EIU's first extra-inning game since losing to Oral Roberts at the 2008 NCAA Lincoln Regional.

 

Eastern was charged with seven errors, its most since committing eight in a 2005 loss at Arkansas State.

 

“It was the same script as last weekend,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “Friday night, situational hitting really cost us the game. Yesterday, we're up 7-2 and can't hold a lead. So the guys are down and they have a right to be down. We're trying to keep their spirits up. Today we make seven errors and only lose 12-11. There were some bad swings and a couple of at-bats where you'd expect more. I was disappointed in veterans like [Richie] Derbak and [Zach] Borenstein for giving away some at-bats. Mentally we weren't really strong this weekend. And with UAB and South Florida up next, it's not going to get any easier. So we're going to have to be tougher.”

 

Schmitz was ejected in the eighth inning after arguing a call at first base. With EIU down 10-9, Schmitz felt the Belmont first baseman came off the bag on a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Daniel Rowe. That call came with runners moving up to second and third base and accounted for the second out of the inning. The Bruins were able to escape the frame with their lead still at 10-9.

 

Alex Gee, Ben Thoma and Ferguson each finished with a pair of hits. Wallsten didn't enter the game until the bottom of the sixth but still finished with a career-high four RBIs.

 

The Panthers scored four times in the third and eighth innings. Belmont plated six runs in the bottom of the third.

 

Eastern had runners on first and second with one out in the top of the 10th but was unable to score.

 

Mark Noth led off the bottom half of the frame with an infield single and took second on a throwing error by Matt Miller. The Panthers caught a break when the next BU hitter popped up while trying to execute a sacrifice bunt. Mike Martin replaced Miller (0-2) on the mound with the top of the order coming up. Martin walked the first man he faced, issuing his first free pass of the season.

 

Eastern went for a force out at second base on the ensuing ground ball, but Rowe couldn't handle the throw. The Panthers had to bring the infield in with one out, the bases loaded and Belmont's top returning player from 2009, Dylan Craig, coming to the plate. Craig was able to plate the game-winning run with an infield single.

 

Gee, Derbak and Thoma were all aboard when Wallsten delivered his opposite-field, bases-clearing double in the eighth inning. That cut the Belmont lead to 10-8. After a single by Ferguson moved Wallsten to third, Ryan Dineen's first collegiate base hit allowed EIU to pull within a run. The controversial call on Rowe at first base followed.

 

Thoma opened the ninth inning with a single and ended up scoring on ground ball to the right side off the bat of Wallsten. Then with two down and pinch runner Daniel Bracken representing the game-tying run at third base, Ferguson delivered a base hit up the middle.

 

A two-run double from Curt Restko was the key hit of the Panthers' four-run third inning. Rowe scored later in the frame on a balk by Belmont starter Nate Woods. Borenstein plated Restko with a ground ball to the right side.

 

Walks were again a problem for Brent McNeil in his second EIU start. He walked three consecutive batters, all three runners eventually scoring, during Belmont's six-run third and only recorded one out in the inning before giving way to the bullpen.

 

Dillon Roark bounced back from a tough outing Saturday with three innings of one-run relief. He gave up only two hits and one walk. Miller struck out four over four innings, but was charged with three runs (two earned) on five hits.

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