Box Score
RICHMOND, Ky. – In a back-and-forth game that saw six different lead changes in the series finale against Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky. The Panthers came up just short in the game as the Colonels completed the series sweep winning game three by a score of 8-7. The Panthers will return to Coaches Stadium to host Morehead State in a three-game series next weekend (May 6-8).
With the loss, Eastern Illinois falls to 7-36 (2-19 OVC). Eastern Kentucky improves to 20-25 (10-11 OVC).
After both teams were held scoreless in the first two innings, the game took a turn and became a back-and-forth affair. The Panthers got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. After
Nick Maton singled to start the inning, a sacrifice bunt moved Maton up another 90 feet and into scoring position.
Cale Hennemann brought home Maton with an RBI single to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Eastern Illinois extended their lead with another run in the top of the fourth inning. The inning was started with back-to-back singles by
Mitch Gasbarro and
Demetre Taylor. A sacrifice bunt moved the pair to second and third.
Jason Scholl plated Gasbarro on an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 2-0.
Eastern Kentucky overtook the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning. With runners on the corners for the Colonels, Kyle Nowlin tied the game with a two-run double into left center. A single by Ben Fisher scored Nowlin and gave EKU a 3-2 lead.
The scoring continued for the Panthers in the top of the fifth inning. Just like the third inning, Maton singled to lead off the inning and moved up on another sacrifice bunt by
Dane Toppel.
Joseph Duncan laid down a perfect bunt and reached first on the hit to put runners on the corners. Hennemann drove in Maton on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. The Panthers found themselves ahead once again on the Gasbarro RBI double that plated Duncan.
Andy Fisher entered the game on the mound for Eastern Illinois in the bottom of the fifth inning with Eastern Kentucky threatening to score. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, Fisher got the first two batters out he faced to keep the Eastern Illinois lead at 4-3.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Eastern Kentucky got to the Eastern Illinois reliever Fisher in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second, Taylor Blair drove in a run with an RBI double to right field. Eastern Kentucky regained the lead 6-4 on the next play on a Fisher single up the middle that plated two runs.
The back-and-forth action continued into the top of the eighth inning. With the bases full, the Panthers scored their first run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Frankie Perrone gave Eastern Illinois a 7-6 lead with a two-run double to left field.
Eastern Kentucky took the lead one final time with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and won the series finale 8-7.
Fisher suffered the loss on the mound for the Panthers, allowing five runs in 3.2 inning of relief.
Gasbarro led the Eastern Illinois offense as he finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate. Maton added three hits and Taylor finished the day with two hits.
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