Box Score |
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech used a three-run fifth inning to take their first lead of the game and added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as the Golden Eagles won the series opener, 5-3, on Friday night over the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois had their three-game winning streak snapped with the loss and dropped to 5-20 (2-5 OVC). Tennessee Tech moved to 21-7 (10-0 OVC) with the win.
The Panthers got to the Tennessee Tech pitching staff early in the first inning.
Jimmy Govern got things started with a one-out double to right-center field. After a groundout, Govern came around to score on an RBI single from
Dougie Parks and gave the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
Tennessee Tech tied the score in the bottom of the second on an RBI single form David Garza.
After a quiet third and fourth inning, both teams broke back into the scoring column in the fifth.
Joseph Duncan singled with one out in the inning and moved into scoring position after swiping second base.
Logan Beaman followed with an RBI single to left to plate Duncan and stole second to give the Panthers another runner in scoring position. After
Dougie Parks drew a seven-pitch walk,
Matt Albert singled home Beaman to extend the EIU lead to 3-1.
Tennessee Tech answered back in the bottom half of the inning. The Golden Eagles worked back-to-back walks to start the rally in the fifth and got their first run in the inning on an RBI single from Alex Junior. Two wild pitches brought home another run for Tennessee Tech and left a runner at third base. Chase Chambers hit the go-ahead run in on an infield single. TTU added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and held the Panthers scoreless in the ninth to earn a 5-3 victory in the series opener.
Jake Haberer took the loss for the Panthers, allowing four runs in five innings pitched.
Beaman and Albert both finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the EIU offense.
The Panthers will look to even the series on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
