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MATTOON, Ill.  – Errors proved costly for the second time in as many meetings this season with the Fighting Illini as the Panther baseball team lost 5-2 behind four errors on Wednesday night at Grimes Field in front of 1,133 spectators. EIU dropped to 14-20 on the year.
 
Illinois (20-16) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the third inning, scoring on a ground-out RBI by Justin Parr. The Fighting Illini added four more runs late in the game to take a 5-0 advantage over the Panthers heading into the ninth inning. Illinois added one run in the seventh on two hits and three EIU errors before tacking on three runs in the eighth.
 
Trent Whitcomb hit a pinch hit RBI single to get the Panthers on the board in the final inning before Tyler Schweigert cut EIU's deficit to three (5-2) when he scored on a passed ball. Illinois relief pitcher Ronnie Muck spoiled the rally for the Panthers as he struck out the final two Panther batters, giving the Fighting Illini their 20^th win of the season.
 
Illinois posted three more hits (7-4), but stranded two more runners on base (5-3). The Panthers committed four more errors (4-0) in the loss. EIU had a season-high five errors in the first meeting between the two teams this season on April 10 in Champaign.
 
Andrew Grahn (0-4) took the loss for EIU, walking three and allowing one hit in two innings of work. A total of six Panthers saw action in the game. Adam Clark finished the contest, striking out five and not surrendering any hits or runs in the last two innings.
 
Josh Ferry (3-1) picked up the win for Illinois, striking out six and only allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings. Jordan Parr paced the team at the plate as he was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
 
The Panthers return to action on April 20-22 when they play host to Morehead State in a weekend Ohio Valley Conference series. The first game is slated to start at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 20.