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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Panther baseball team dropped game two of the weekend Ohio Valley Conference series with Southeast Missouri, 12-5, on Saturday afternoon. EIU falls to 10-14 (2-3 OVC) on the year.
 
“We put to many guys on base today and Slazinik wasn't as sharp as he usually is,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “SEMO has always been a team that does well once they get momentum going, so kudos to them on the win this afternoon.”
 
After the Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, the Redhawks responded by scoring seven unanswered runs over the next three innings to take a 7-3 advantage. SEMO added five runs in the top of the ninth on three hits and one Panther error, pushing its lead to seven (12-5).
 
Trailing 7-3 in the eighth inning, the Panthers fought back to cut their deficit to two (7-5) on a solo home run by Ben Thoma and a RBI double by Ryan Dineen. The Redhawks ended the late-inning rally when they put in relief pitcher Ryan Prickett who retired the final four EIU batters.
 
EIU posted three more hits (10-7) than SEMO, but committed three more errors (3-0). The Panthers also left four more runners on base (9-5).
 
Ryan Dineen paced the Panther offense as the junior infielder went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. T.J. McManus added two hits and Caleb Howell chipped in two runs.
 
Christian Slazinik (4-3) took the loss for EIU, striking out five and walking six in 4.1 innings. He also allowed six runs (five earned). The Panther pitching staff allowed three home runs on the day after previously only surrendering two home runs in the team's first 23 games of the year.
 
“We are set up fine tomorrow with Troy Barton on the mound,” said Schmitz. “We have to win the battle, and that's two out of three on the weekend.”
 
Shae Simmons (1-4) picked up the win for SEMO, tossing six strikeouts and allowing eight hits in seven innings of work. Derek Gibson led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI.