Box Score |
Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois scored four runs in both of the seventh and eighth innings to pull away late from Robert Morris-Chicago and took the game, 12-4, at Coaches Stadium on Tuesday.
The Panthers, winners of two straight games, improved to 4-19 on the season. Robert Morris-Chicago dropped to 11-15 on the season.
Robert Morris-Chicago took an early lead against the Panthers with the help of a two-out rally in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and second, Brian Czyl drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to left.
Matt Albert quickly tied the game at one in the bottom half of the frame on a lead-off home run to center. The home run marked Albert's seventh of the season.
The Eagles quickly responded and regained the lead with a run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Eastern Illinois knotted the score at 4-4 with a three-run fifth inning. With a pair of runners on,
Jimmy Govern drove in the first run of the inning for the Panthers with an RBI single to center and moved into scoring position as Robert Morris-Chicago was unsuccessful in trying to throw out an EIU runner. After
Logan Beaman walked to load the bases,
Dougie Parks drove in a run with an RBI single to left field. Albert drove in the game-tying run with an RBI groundout later in the inning.
The EIU offense stayed hot in the seventh inning. After
Joseph Duncan made a web gem of a catch against the wall in center to end a Robert Morris-Chicago threat in the top of the inning, he followed with a bunt single to begin the bottom-half of the frame. Beaman walked later in the inning to put a pair of runners on for the Panthers. The two runners moved up an extra base on a wild pitch and Duncan came around to score later on a balk. Albert brought home Beaman with another RBI base knock to left. After a walk and a failed pickoff attempt,
Nicholas McCormick added to the EIU total with an RBI base hit. A second failed pickoff attempt from the Eagles gave the Panthers an 8-4 lead after seven innings.
Parks provided the Panthers with another four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with a grand slam over the wall in center as he finished the game with a team-high five RBIs.
Michael Starcevich earned his first win of the season in relief as he tossed 1.1 perfect innings.
Duncan, Govern, Parks and Albert all finished the game with two hits for the Panthers. Albert added three RBIs in the game.
The Panthers will have a quick turnaround as they host Southern Illinois on Wednesday at Coaches Stadium with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
