Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2

TAMPA -- Alex Gee connected for a pair of solo home runs and the Panthers also got a two-run homer from Gerik Wallsten, as Eastern Illinois baseball opened its spring break trip with a doubleheader sweep of South Florida, 7-6 and 11-9, Saturday.

Mike Recchia (1-1) struck out a season-high eight and earned his first victory of the season in game one.  Matt Miller backed him up with an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief, earning his first save as a Panther. He struck out four of the eight batters he faced, including the side in the ninth inning.

Dillon Roark (1-1) earned the win and Troy Barton the save in the nightcap. Barton retired the only batter he faced to end the game with the bases loaded. A base hit for USF (3-12) most likely would have tied the game.

Eastern (3-9) scored five times in the fifth inning of game two. The Panthers won the opener after scoring in each of the first three innings and opening up an early 4-1 lead.

Cam Strang had four hits in game two, including an RBI double in the second inning.

Gee led off the sixth inning of game one with a homer and also connected for a solo shot to cap the scoring in EIU's five-run fifth of the nightcap. Wallsten hit his longball with one down in the sixth inning of game one.

The Panthers survived a four-run eighth inning in game one. Miller left the potential tying run on base thanks to an inning-ending ground out to first base.

The nightcap was tied 8-8 entering the top of the eighth. Eastern scored twice in the frame to take the lead for good. Strang led off with a single and scored on a wild pitch. Zach Borenstein also plated Rich Ruff with a two-out single.

The series finale is slated for a noon (CDT) first pitch. Brent McNeil (Jr, RHP) is expected to start on the mound for EIU.