Box ScoreCHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois Panthers struggled on the defensive side in the second game of the three-game series against Jacksonville State on Friday afternoon. The Panthers committed five errors in the game en route to a 10-3 victory for the visiting Gamecocks. With the loss, the Panthers now hold a record of 3-19 (0-5 OVC), while Jacksonville State moves to 15-6 and remains perfect in OVC play at 8-0. EIU will look to prevent the sweep tomorrow as the two teams square off in the series finale at 1 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.
Clayton Daniel got the JSU offense started in the first inning with a double out into the right center gap, and moved up to third following a passed ball. Daniel scored on the next play following an error by the Panthers to put JSU ahead 1-0.
Jacksonville State took advantage in the top of the second to add another run to their total. After Peyton Williams walked and stole second, he moved up to third on an errant throw by the Panthers trying to catch Williams stealing second. An error on the Panthers infield allowed Williams to come in and score.
Following an RBI single by Taylor Hawthorne and a single by Williams, JSU was in business with runners on the corners with one out. EIU starting pitcher
Matt Wivinis sold a good pickoff move and had Williams caught between first and second, but Wivinis overthrew
Mitch Gasbarro at first base and allowed another Jacksonville State run. The Gamecocks added another run in the inning with the help of an RBI single by Gavin Golsan as JSU took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Panthers cut into the Jacksonville State lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning.
Demetre Taylor and
Cale Hennemann each drew a walk to put runners on first and second for EIU. The pair moved up a base following a groundout.
Jason Scholl drove in Taylor and Hennemann with a two-run double into right field that nearly cleared the fence.
Back-to-back singles by
Frankie Perrone and Hennemann started a scoring opportunity for the Panthers in the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the inning, Scholl walked to load the bases.
Josh Turnock stepped to the plate and brought home another Panther run as he reached on a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Gamecocks pulled away from Eastern Illinois in the late innings. The Gamecocks scratched a run across with an RBI double by Tyler Gamble in the seventh, and another in the eighth as Chase Salvani scored on a wild pitch. Back-to-back home runs by Gamble and Hayden White accounted for a three-run ninth inning for Jacksonville State against EIU relievers.
Despite the defensive struggles for the Panthers, Wivinis (0-5) pitched well in his 6.2 innings of work allowing only two earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and five strikeouts as he was the pitcher of record for the loss. Jack Pierce (3-0) earned the win for Jacksonville State as he went five innings on the mound, allowing three runs, on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Grant Chandler picked up the four inning save for the Gamecocks keeping the Panthers out of the scoring column.
Joseph Duncan led the Panther offense going 2-for-5 on the day.Â
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