Box ScoreMEMPHIS, Tenn. – After playing a pair of extra-inning games in the first two contests of the series, the series finale ended in regulation. The Memphis offense scored 20 runs in the first five innings against Eastern Illinois, and rolled the rest of the game defeating the Panthers 23-0. EIU falls to 2-17 overall on the season.
The Panthers will return to Coaches Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for their 2016 home opener against Robert Morris-Chicago at 3 p.m.
The Panthers had a chance to score to open up the game as
Cale Hennemann singled with two outs in the inning. A two-base error throwing error by Memphis allowed Hennemann to move up to third. Hennemann was left stranded 90 feet away from home as the next Panther batter flied out.
It did not take long for the Memphis bats to come alive, as the Tigers scored eight runs in the first frame. The Tigers led 3-0 before the Panthers were able to record an out defensively in the frame. Memphis would not slow down from there however, as back-to-back RBI singles by Jacob Elliott and Jason Santana added a pair of runs for the home team. Zach Schritenthal cleared the bases with a three-run double make it an 8-0 lead.
Eastern Illinois saw another scoring opportunity come up empty in the second inning.
Frankie Perrone walked and moved up to second after
Matt Dunavant found a hole in the left side of the defense for a single. The Panthers had the bags full after
Jason Scholl earned a five-pitch walk. Memphis starting pitcher Matt Ferguson once again was able to pitch out of the jam as he got the next two Panthers to ground out and keep EIU out of the scoring column.
Memphis added another run in the bottom of the frame as Brandon Grudzielanek doubled out to left center. Grudzielanek found his way home on the next play as Elliott singled to left.
The scoring continued for Memphis into the third inning as Darien Tubbs walked and stole second. Tubbs came around to score on a Chris Carrier single to go up 10-0 into the fourth inning.
Memphis scored nine runs on four hits in the fourth inning and a Carrier solo home run in the fifth. The Tigers extended their lead to 23-0 after scoring three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Panthers gave it one final effort to put themselves in the scoring column as
Josh Turnock earned a four-pitch walk with two outs.
Nick Maton singled out to center to put runners at first and second, but the pair would not advance any further.
Brendon Allen (0-3) suffered the loss for EIU as he allowed eight runs in one inning on the mound.
Hennemann, Dunavant, Maton,
Demetre Taylor, and
Mitch Gasbarro all tallied a hit each for the Panthers.
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