CHARLESTON, Ill. – Austin Peay scored at least one run in each of the final seven innings, including a seven-run seventh, to defeat Eastern Illinois baseball, 18-6, Saturday afternoon in the finale of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Coaches Stadium.

The game was tied 5-5 until the Governors (15-12, 3-3 OVC) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth and then blew the game opening an inning later. The Panthers (6-20, 2-4 OVC) won the series with victories in both games of Friday's doubleheader.

 

The 18 runs were the most scored by an EIU opponent since The Citadel posted 19 in March 2007 in Charleston, S.C., and the most by a visiting team at Coaches Stadium since Saint Joseph's (Ind.) scored 26 in April 2004.

 

Austin Peay posted season-high totals for runs and hits (17). Adam Browett and Shayne Martin both finished with three hits, including two doubles apiece, and five RBIs.

 

Eastern pounded out 12 hits but left 15 runners on base, which tied a season high.

Alex Gee led the Panthers with a career-high four hits, including three doubles. He has hit safely in eight consecutive games this season and in 10 straight OVC games dating back to last year. Gee finished the series 7-for-11 with four doubles.

 

Curt Restko went 2-for-4 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to nine games, which matched the longest of the season by an EIU player. Ben Thoma and Ryan Dineen also had two hits.

 

“As a team we came into this weekend a little bit fragile with [a loss at Saint Louis] and losing all three at Eastern Kentucky (last weekend),” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “To come out of this [series] with two wins, with no luck involved yesterday when we played good baseball. Today was whatever, one bad seventh inning. I'm very pleased with two out of three. We have a home series again next weekend (vs. Morehead State) and we keep playing a little bit better each week.”

 

The five EIU pitchers out the bullpen surrendered a combined 13 runs (11 earned) in the game's final five innings. Tom Kimbro, who made his first appearance as a Panther, was the lone reliever to emerge unscathed, retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth.

 

Josh Mueller gave up five runs on six hits through four innings in his first action since the first weekend of March. He walked two and struck out two.

 

“Josh Mueller's arm seemed to be good,” Schmitz said. “I'm excited at his progress. Obviously he wasn't that sharp, but that's kind of noted.”

 

Stephen Huff (3-3) earned the win for APSU after regrouping from a three-run first inning. He went six innings, giving up five runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out five.

 

Brent McNeil (0-3) suffered the loss despite the go ahead run he surrendered being unearned. He walked the first two batters he faced in the seventh and the free passes led to the big inning, in which the Govs sent 11 men to the plate.

 

Eastern scored three times in the first inning to take an early but had a chance for an even bigger rally. Dineen grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

 

Restko was picked off at second base with one out in the fourth. Gee delivered a two-out, two-run double later in the inning.

 

The Panthers also left the bases loaded in the seventh and Thoma hit into a game-ending double play with the sacks packed in the ninth.

 

Gee connected for doubles off the fence in the third and fourth innings. Both balls most likely would have left the yard if not for a stiff wind blowing in from right center for the entire series. He doubled to open the third inning but EIU was unable to move him to third base.

 

Despite the wind, Jon Clinard connected for a game-tying solo home run to leadoff the fifth inning. Eastern had gone ahead 5-4 on Gee's two-run double in the bottom of the fourth.

Cam Strang and Gee delivered run-scoring singles in EIU's three-run first inning. Zach Borenstein was hit by a pitch to ignite the rally and went first-to-third on Thoma's ensuing base hit. Strang singled home Thoma and Gee scored on a wild pitch.

The Panthers continue their home-heavy stretch with Tuesday's 3 p.m. midweek game against Illinois College and host Morehead State next weekend.