Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. – With one of the largest home crowds on hand for "Kids Day" at Coaches Stadium, the Eastern Illinois ball club was in search for an Ohio Valley Conference series win against visiting Belmont. The Bruins played spoiler on the day as they defeated the Panthers 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers will continue their home stand with a single game contest against Saint Louis on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Eastern Illinois drops to 7-33 (2-16 OVC), while Belmont picked up the win and moves to 22-17 (11-7 OVC).
The Panthers picked up the only run in the first four innings in what started out as a pitcher's duel between
Matt Wivinis and Tyler Vaughn. Eastern Illinois got to the Belmont starter for a run in the bottom of the second inning.
Frankie Perrone tripled down the right field line and eventually came around to score on a
Nick Maton sacrifice fly to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Belmont rallied to take the lead with a three-run fifth inning. Kyle Conger started the inning by reaching on an error and moved into scoring position on a groundout. Belmont scored their first run of the inning on an RBI single by Chas Hadden. Tyler Fullerton gave Belmont a 3-1 lead on the next play as he hit a two-run home run over the wall in left center.
Belmont manufactured another run an inning later in the top of the sixth. Desi Ammons singled through the hole in the left side of the Panthers' infield. A sacrifice bunt moved Ammons up to second, and a deep fly out allowed Ammons to reach third. Conger singled to drive in Ammons and give Belmont the 4-1 lead.
Two doubles accounted for Belmont's first run in the top of the eighth. The Bruins added another run on a Hadden bases loaded walk, as the score held the rest of the way at 6-1.
Wivinis took the loss on the mound for the Panthers, allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings.
Alex Cain had a scoreless inning of relief for the Panthers, earning two strikeouts.
Joseph Duncan and Perrone were the only Panthers to record multiple hits, as the pair finished 2-for-4 each. Perrone's two hits were triples.
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