Box Score |
OXFORD, Ala. – Eastern Illinois baseball rallied from a five-run deficit to send the game into extras, but an RBI single by Jacksonville State's Trent Simpson in the bottom of the 11th gave the Gamecocks a 7-6 extra-innings win on Sunday.
Eastern Illinois fell to 2-16 (1-2 OVC) while Jacksonville State moved to 10-9 (2-4 OVC).
Jacksonville State got the game started with a big first inning as the first three Gamecocks reached base. A wild pitch brought home the first Jacksonville State run of the game and Josh Bobo followed with a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field to put the Gamecocks ahead 4-0 after the first frame.
Eastern Illinois responded with a run in the second inning on a lead-off solo home run off the bat of
Matt Albert. Jacksonville State answered with a round-tripper of their own in the bottom of the third inning, a two-run shot by Andrew Naismith to extend their lead to 6-1.
After a quiet fourth and fifth inning from both sides, Eastern Illinois broke into the scoring column again in the sixth. A Jacksonville State error allowed
Joseph Duncan to reach base safely and
Logan Beaman drew a four-pitch walk to put a pair of runners on for the Panthers.
Dougie Parks and Albert blasted back-to-back home runs as Parks drove in three with his home run and Albert hit is second solo home run of the game. Albert's solo shot gave him his second multi-home run game this season and cut the Jacksonville State lead to one at 6-5.
Eastern Illinois had one last chance to tie the game in the ninth and got a clutch lead-off double by
Nicholas McCormick to put the Panthers in business.
Josh Turnock moved McCormick up to third on a sacrifice bunt. Eastern Illinois took advantage of another Jacksonville State error as McCormick scored on the play and sent the game into extras tied at six.
Jacksonville State's first two batters reached base to put runners on the corners to start the bottom of the 11th for the Gamecocks. The EIU pitching staff got the next Gamecocks' batter to strikeout, but Simpson provided Jacksonville State with the game-winning RBI single.
Dustin Wilson suffered the loss on the bump for the Panthers, allowing just one run in 3.2 innings of relief.
Alex Cain kept the Panthers in the game during the middle innings, throwing 3.1 scoreless frames.
Albert finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of home runs to lead the EIU offense.
Eastern Illinois will take a brief break from conference play and travel to Indiana State on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. (CST) game.
