BOX (PDF)  |  BOX (HTML)  |  Postgame Video Interviews

JACKSON, Tenn. – Redshirt-senior Ben Thoma became the all-time Eastern Illinois career home runs leader on Friday night, leading the Panther baseball team to a 7-6 victory over No. 6 seed Southeast Missouri State at Pringles Park in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament action. EIU improves to 29-27 on the year and advances to the OVC championship game at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 26.
 
With the game tied at five heading into the top of the seventh, EIU scored two runs on one hit and one Southeast Missouri error to take a 7-5 advantage. Cameron Berra posted an RBI on a fielding error before Caleb Howell scored the final run on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Dineen.
 
The Redhawks got within one (7-6) in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out RBI single by Taylor Heon before Panther closer Adam Clark struck out the final batter to end the game. Clark posted his fourth save of the season, striking out three and allowing three hits and one run in the game's final 1.2 innings.
 
Darin Worman (5-4) posted the win for EIU, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings of relief work while surrendering five hits. The senior southpaw made his 37^th appearance of the season, setting the new OVC single-season record. Christian Slazinik made the start for EIU and allowed five runs (four earned) and five hits in four innings of action.
 
“Darin Worman did a great job in relief today to get us back on track after we allowed some runs,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “We have confidence in him and we will need him tomorrow, so it's great to have a guy like Darin who can pitch a lot of innings.”
 
The Panthers got on the scoreboard first when David Ciaglia hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning to put the Panthers up 1-0. Southeast Missouri responded in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at one on a two-out RBI single up the middle by Jesse Tierney.
 
EIU scored four runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning to push its lead to four (5-1). T.J. McManus hit a two-RBI double to score the first two runs before Thoma hit a two-run homer to score the final two runs. Thoma's home run was his 14^th of the season and the 40^th of his career, breaking the previous all-time school record of 39 set by Matt Marzec (1996-2000).
 
“(Ben) Thoma is a guy who is getting big hits that change the momentum of the game,” said Schmitz. “He has been clutch in his career and it's great to have those older guys in the lineup in OVC Tournament play.”
 
Southeast Missouri would tie the game at five in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits and one Panther error.
 
The Redhawks had five more hits (13-8) than EIU, but left seven more runners on base (12-5) in the contest. Both teams committed one error.
 
McManus led the team at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and run scored. Howell also added two hits and a run.
 
Dylan Lynn (4-1) took the loss for Southeast Missouri, allowing seven runs (six earned) in 6.1 innings of action. He also threw eight strikeouts on the day. Offensively, Andy Lennington led the Redhawks as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.