Box Score

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – A solid pitching performance by Matt Borens and nine runs through the first three innings of play led to the Panther baseball team defeating Belmont, 10-2, on Friday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.
 
EIU improves to 13-28 on the year and 7-12 in Ohio Valley Conference play while Belmont drops to 18-23 overall and 8-11 in conference play.
 
"Belmont pitches extremely well so we had to be patient at the plate," said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. "Our offense got off to a good start and followed the game plan we had today.
 
"Matt Borens was also outstanding," added Schmitz. "We had a few errors on defense, but Matt kept battling all game."
 
Cameron Berra hit a two-out, two-RBI triple down the right-field line in the bottom of the first inning to give the Panthers the early lead. EIU added three runs on two hits and one error in the next inning to make the score 5-0. A Caleb Howell RBI single up the middle scored the first run before Demetre Taylor drove in the final two runs later in the inning on a single to right field.
 
Tyler Walsh hit a solo home run in the third inning to get Belmont on the scoreboard before the Panthers responded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame, pushing their lead to eight (9-1).
 
A Brennan Washington sacrifice fly scored the Bruins final run in the fourth inning. Berra added made the score 10-2 in the seventh inning as the senior infielder crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
 
EIU had seven more hits (9-2) than Belmont and left two fewer runners on base (7-5). Both teams committed two errors in the contest.
 
Howell led the Panther offense as the junior outfielder went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs. Berra went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a triple and two runs while Jacob Reese added two runs and two RBI.
 
Borens (2-4) earned the win as the junior pitcher threw nine strikeouts in eight innings of action. He only allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits in eight innings of action. Jake Haberer pitched the final inning for EIU as the freshman pitcher did not allow any hits or runs with one strikeout.
 
Patrick McGrath (2-7) took the loss for Belmont, allowing nine runs (six earned) and seven hits in 2.1 innings of action. Blake Harvey threw three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of relief as the senior pitcher only surrendered two hits and one run.
 
Walsh led the Bruins offense as he finished the day going 2-for-4 at the plate with a run and a RBI.
 
Game two of the weekend series is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.