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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Sunday's Ohio Valley Conference baseball series finale between Eastern Illinois and Belmont ended in a 5-5 tie in 10 innings due to inclement weather.
 
The game had nearly three hours of delays due to inclement weather, pushing the duration of the contest to six hour and 39 minutes. The final lightning strike at 6:39 p.m. forced the umpires to call the game.
 
"A goal of ours was not to lose this weekend and we didn't," said Panther head coach Jim Schmitz. "Who knows, the tie could help our winning percentage and help us get into the tournament, but we won't know that for three more weeks."
 
An infield RBI single by Dane Sauer in the second inning scored the first run of the game before the Panthers (14-28-1, 8-12-1 OVC) made the score 2-0 in the next inning on an infield RBI single by Tyler Schweigert.
 
The Bruins (18-24-1, 8-12-1 OVC) got within one in the fourth inning when Matt Beaty scored on a wild pitch. After four complete innings, the game saw roughly a 30 minute lightning delay. Belmont would tie the game at two in the top of the next inning when Alec Diamond crossed home plate on a Joe Greenfield balk.
 
The game then had a two and half hour delay for rain and lightning before play resumed in the sixth inning.
 
EIU scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 4-2. Belmont added three runs on three hits and one error in the following inning to take its first lead of the game, 5-4.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mitch Gasbarro crossed home plate on a fielding error by the Belmont shortstop to tie the game at five.
 
EIU had two more hits (10-8) than Belmont in the contest. The Bruins left one more runner on base (12-11) and committed one more error (2-1).
 
Gasbarro finished the day going 2-for-4 with two runs while Cameron Berra went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Diamond paced the Bruins offense as the junior infielder went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI.
 
Austin Coley started the game for Belmont and went five innings with three strikeouts while allowing six hits and two runs (one earned). The Bruins used four pitchers who combined to post seven strikeouts and three walks.
 
Greenfield started the game for EIU and went five innings with three strikeouts and two walks. All told, the Panthers used five pitchers who combined to throw four strikeouts and issue five walks.
 
The Panthers return to action at Saint Louis on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 p.m.