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MURRAY, Ky. – The Panther baseball team won its seventh consecutive Ohio Valley Conference game on Sunday afternoon, defeating Murray State, 12-7, to complete the series sweep. EIU improves to 22-23 (12-8 OVC) on the year.

“Offensively, we have a lot of guys who are confident at the plate, being aggressive and finding their pitches,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “Cameron Berra did a great job filling in this afternoon for Nick Priessman.

“We got a lot of big hits this weekend with two strikes and/or two outs and were able to keep adding on a few runs at a time.”
 
After EIU scored four runs through the game's first two innings, Murray State responded by scoring three unanswered runs to cut its deficit to one (4-3) after five complete innings.
 
Brant Valach hit an RBI sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth to give the Panthers a two-run lead before T.J. McManus added a sacrifice fly in the following inning to make the score 6-3. EIU added four runs on four hits in the eighth, moving the Panthers lead to seven (10-3).
 
A two-run homer by Ben Thoma in the top of the ninth scored EIU's final two runs of the contest and making the score 12-3. The Racers fought back in the bottom of the ninth as they scored four runs on four hits off of Panther closer Adam Clark to get within five (12-7). The southpaw reliever got Noah Zipko to strike out looking to end the late-inning Racer rally.
 
EIU had three more hits (17-14) in the win and did not commit any errors while Murray State had one miscue. The Thoroughbreds left three more runners on base (9-6) than the Panthers.
 
Seven different Panthers had two or more hits on the day, led by Cameron Berra who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Ryan Dineen added three hits and two RBI while Caleb Howell scored a game-high four runs.
 
Mike Hoekstra (3-3) picked up the win for EIU, striking out three and surrendering nine hits and three runs in 5.2 innings of work. Darin Worman relieved Hoekstra, only allowing one hit in 2.1 innings before Clark entered the game in the ninth.
 
Cameron Finch (4-3) took the loss for the Thoroughbreds, surrendering eight hits and five runs (four earned) in 5.1 innings. Mike Kozlowski led the team at the plate as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs.
 
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, May 8 when they travel to Saint Louis for a 6 p.m. first pitch. EIU defeated the Billikens earlier this season, 13-6, on March 27 in the Panthers home opener.