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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois was active on the base paths early and often, stealing successfully on eight of its nine attempts, and all eight of those runners ended up scoring as the Fighting Illini defeated Eastern Illinois baseball, 10-1, Tuesday evening at Illinois Field.

Champaign native Cam Strang knocked in the Panthers' only run of the night with a one-out single in the fifth inning. He plated Alex Gee after the cleanup hitter opened the frame with a double.

Zach Borenstein was a productive 3-for-3, singling in each of his three at-bats and reaching base safely for a 23rd consecutive game. But Curt Restko's career best 13-game hit streak ended with an 0-for-3 night. He was pinch hit for in what would have been his final at-bat.

Daniel Bracken made his third start of the season, patrolling center field, and posted his first hit as a Panther with a leadoff single in the sixth.

Illinois (14-13) starting pitcher Kevin Manson (2-0) threw 17 consecutive strikes to begin the game before finally throwing a ball to Gerik Wallsten with one out in the third inning. Eastern (9-22) was retired on only four pitches in the second.

The Fighting Illini scored two times in each of the first two innings, cashing in on back-to-back singles to open the game with consecutive RBI groundouts. The following frame, Illinois strung together three straight two-out hits against EIU starter Troy Barton (1-4).

The Illini blew the game open with a three-run fifth. Aaron Johnson connected for a two-run homer to punctuate the scoring in the inning. The following frame, EIU committed three errors with two outs, allowing Illinois to score three unearned runs.

Mike Martin worked 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief in one of his more efficient outings of the season. Tom Kimbro and Dillon Roark pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning, respectively.

The two teams will play again next Wednesday (April 21) at Grimes Field in Mattoon's Peterson Park.

The Panthers return to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Tennessee Tech.