Box ScoreCONWAY, Ark. -- The Eastern Illinois baseball team outhit Central Arkansas 11-7 in the final game of the four-game series, but a three-run sixth inning gave the Bears just enough run support to hold off a Panther comeback as the Panthers dropped the game 6-5. EIU falls to 0-8 on the season as Central Arkansas improved to 5-3. EIU returns to Coaches Stadium for their 2016 home opener against Indiana State on Tuesday (March 1).
Dane Toppel led off the game getting hit by a pitch, and stole second to put EIU in scoring position early. Toppel found his way to third following a ground out, and came in to score on an RBI groundout by
Cale Hennemann to put EIU ahead 1-0.
Central Arkansas responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning following a two RBI triple by the Bears Hunter Strong to take a 2-1 lead after one inning complete.
Central Arkansas added another run to their total in the bottom of the third inning with a two-out rally. A single and a walk put runners at first and second for the home team. Justin McCarty singled up the middle to bring the score to 3-1 in favor of UCA.
Josh Turnock singled and advanced to second after a single by Toppel. EIU escaped a double play as
Mitch Gasbarro legged out a fielder's choice to reach first safely as Toppel moved up to second base. Hennemann singled to bring in Toppel, and
Matt Dunavant followed with a RBI single of his own to bring in Gasbarro to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
Two extra base hits by UCA put the Bears up by a score of 5-3 and chased EIU starter
Brendon Allen (0-1). The Bears tacked on another run with a Butch Rea sacrifice fly to put UCA ahead 6-3 after six innings played.
The Panthers answered with a run of their own in the top of the seventh as Toppel started the inning with a single. Toppel moved up to second on a groundout, and Hennemann provided another hit with a runner in scoring position with his RBI single, his third RBI of the game to put bring EIU within two runs at 6-4.
Jimmy Govern pulled EIU within a single run with a solo shot in the eighth, his first home run of his EIU career.
Derek Beier (1-0) allowed just one run in 2.1 innings of relief to pick up the win for UCA. Jacob Murray closed the game for UCA for his third save of the season and gave the Bears a 6-5 win in the final game of the series.
EIU outhit UCA in the final game 11-7 with Hennemann leading the way for EIU going 2-for-5 with three RBI. Toppel (2-for-3) and Dunavant (2-for-5) were the other two Panthers with multiple hits.
Jake Haberer pitched three innings of scoreless relief for EIU.
