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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team lost a heartbreaker to Alabama, 3-2, in Tuscaloosa on Friday night.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the ninth, the Panthers (1-8) tied the game at two on a Zach Borenstein RBI single to left field.

After an Austin Smith triple started the bottom of the ninth for the Crimson Tide (8-5), Josh Rosecrans hit an RBI single to drive in Smith and give Alabama the victory.

EIU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Jake Samuels scored on a throwing error. The Crimson Tide eventually tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Alabama took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the sixth on a Brock Bennett RBI single up the middle.

#T.J. McManus# led the Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Cam Strang was 2-for-4 at the plate while freshman Jacob Reese was 1-for-3 with a run.

Mike Hoekstra had arguably his best outing of the year, throwing a season-high seven strikeouts and only surrendering two earned runs in seven innings of work. Matt Miller (0-1) recorded the loss, allowing one hit and one run in 0.2 innings of action.

Jay Shaw (1-0) took the win for Alabama, throwing one strikeout and not allowing a hit in 0.1 innings. Nathan Kilcrease started the contest and threw nine strikeouts while only allowing five hits through the first seven innings.

EIU was out hit by one (9-8) in the contest and left four more runners on base than the Crimson Tide (9-5). Both teams had one error in the game.

The Panthers face Alabama in game two of the weekend series at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.