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Box Score | Photo Gallery (By Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Facing a four-run deficit entering the final inning of the opening game of the series against Jacksonville State, the Eastern Illinois baseball team rallied back with two runs in the final frame and had the game-winning run on first base, but the Gamecocks' closer Justin Hoyt worked out of the jam to give JSU a 6-4 win. EIU is now 3-18 (0-4 OVC) on the season, and JSU moves to 14-6 (7-0 OVC). The two teams will be back in action tomorrow at Coaches Stadium with game two of the series set to begin at 3 p.m.

The Panthers looked to jump on Jacksonville State in the early innings. After back-to-back singles by Frankie Perrone and Mitch Gasbarro, Josh Turnock was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out in the bottom of the second inning. JSU starter Graham Officer got the next two Panthers with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

After a lead-off double by Taylor Hawthorne, JSU had their first scoring chance of the game. A groundout moved Hawthorne up to third base with two outs in the top of the third. EIU starter Michael McCormick looked as if he would come out of the inning with no damage done, but after a swinging third strike hit the dirt against Gavin Golsan, a Panther throwing error allowed Golsan to reach base and bring home Hawthorne to put the Gamecocks ahead 1-0.

Once again the Gamecocks used a lead-off double to spark a rally, as Hayden White snuck a ball in down the left field line as he ended up on second base. A single by the Gamecocks put White on third base. Hawthorne recorded his second double of the game with an RBI double out into the left center gap to bring home a run. JSU added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Jacksonville State took advantage of a pair of miscues by the Panthers in the top of the sixth inning. Paschal Petrongolo reached base on a Panther error and found his way on third following a groundout and a wild pitch. He found his way home on a sacrifice fly to give JSU a 4-0 lead.

The Panthers offense came through with some timely hitting in the bottom half of the frame. Demetre Taylor lined a ball down the right field line for a double. The Panthers had runners on the corners after a Perrone single that found its way up the middle. Turnock put the Panthers on the board with a sacrifice fly out to deep center.

A pair of singles, sandwiched by a pair of walks, allowed Jacksonville State to add another run in the top of the seventh.

Nick Maton got things going for the Panthers in the bottom half of the seventh as the freshman short stop roped a double into right. He was able to cruise into third after the Jacksonville State right fielder could not handle the ball cleanly before getting it back into the infield. Dane Toppel brought home Maton with an RBI groundout to cut the JSU lead to 5-2.

The Gamecocks looked to put the game away in the top of the eighth inning, as JSU would load the bases with only one out against EIU reliever Chase Thurston. Joe McGuire added another run to the JSU total, but Thurston would roll a groundout on the next batter to limit the damage.

The Panthers would put forth one final effort in the bottom half of the ninth inning. After a Jason Scholl double and a Maton single, EIU would have runners on the corners with just one out. JSU brought in their preseason All-OVC closer Justin Hoyt into the game. The Panthers' offense continued to roll as Matt Dunavant plated Scholl with an RBI single out to center. Cale Hennemann battled back to work a walk and keep the inning going. Taylor stepped up and smoked a ball to the left side of the infield for an RBI single. The Panthers had the game-winning run on first base in Taylor, but Hoyt closed the door as he got Perrone out swinging to end the game at 6-4 in favor of the Gamecocks.

McCormick (0-3) suffered a tough loss for the Panthers as he went seven innings on the mound, giving up five runs (three earned), while scattering eight hits, and striking out six. Officer (3-1) was the winning pitcher for JSU going 5.2 innings, allowing one run on eight hits, and striking out three.

The Eastern Illinois offense outhit Jacksonville State 13-10, as Perrone led the way with a 3-for-5 day. Joseph Duncan, Taylor, and Maton all added two hits each.