Box Score
MARTIN, Tenn. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team took an early lead on UT Martin on Friday night, and continued their scoring ways highlighted by a 10-run fourth inning and cruised to a 16-2 win in the series opener against the Skyhawks. The win moves EIU to 11-37 (5-20 OVC) and UT Martin drops to 17-31 (7-18 OVC). The two teams will continue their series with game two scheduled tomorrow at 3 p.m.
The Panthers got the scoring started early in the top of the first inning. After
Joseph Duncan made his way to third base in the inning,
Demetre Taylor brought in Duncan on an infield single to give EIU a 1-0 advantage.
The Scoring continued into the third inning with the first run being provided by back-to-back doubles by
Hunter Morris and Duncan.
Mitch Gasbarro kept with the pattern and hit an RBI double down the left field line. The Panthers scored their final run of the inning on a
Frankie Perrone fielder's choice.
The Eastern Illinois offense exploded for ten runs in the top of the fourth inning. Following a two-run triple by Duncan and an RBI single by
Cale Hennemann, the Panthers loaded the bases for
Jason Scholl. The senior catcher squared up the first pitch he saw and cleared the wall in center for a grand slam. Eastern Illinois kept applying the pressure against UT Martin as Morris, Duncan, and Gasbarro all added RBI singles after the Scholl grand slam to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead.
Perrone added a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning to extend the EIU lead to 16-0.
UT Martin worked their way into the scoring column in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-run double by Nick Proto.
Alex Cain worked a scoreless ninth in his second inning of work to seal the 16-2 victory for Eastern Illinois.
Brendon Allen pitched a gem on the mound for the Panthers. Allen seven scoreless innings and scattered three hits. He also added ten strikeouts.
The Panthers' offense exploded for 21 hits in the game, marking the first time the Panthers have recorded twenty or more hits in a game since recording 22 last season against Illinois College on April 15.
Duncan, Taylor, and Scholl all finished the game 4-for-5 to lead the way, with Duncan and Scholl adding four RBIs each. Morris contributed a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Perrone and Gasbarro added two hits each.
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