Box Score |
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Trailing by five runs entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Eastern Illinois baseball team attempted one final rally, but the Southeast Missouri bullpen held off the Panthers as the Redhawks came away with a 7-3 win in the series-opening game between the two teams on Friday.
Eastern Illinois fell to 5-24 (2-8 OVC) following the loss. With the win, SEMO improved to 16-12 (7-6 OVC) this season.
Both starting pitchers cruised through the first two innings, but EIU starter
Jake Haberer ran into some trouble in the top of the third inning. After a pair of singles the Redhawks had runners on the corners with one away. Haberer got SEMO's Tristen Gagan to hit a groundball to Eastern Illinois'
Matt Albert. The Panthers attempted to roll a double play, but Gagan beat out the return throw to first base and brought home a run on the play to give Southeast Missouri a 1-0 lead. The Redhawks extended their lead to 6-0 following a run in the fourth and four more in the fifth.
Dougie Parks started the sixth inning with a lead-off double to put a runner in scoring position for the Panthers. Albert followed with an RBI double to center field to plate Parks and cut the deficit to five at 6-1.
SEMO responded with a run in the top of the seventh. After Gagan doubled to start the inning, Brian Lees singled to move Gagan up to third base. Danny Wright flew out to center and brought home Gagan on an RBI sacrifice fly and extended the SEMO lead to six at 7-1.
The EIU bats came alive again in the eighth against the SEMO bullpen. With one out in the inning, Eastern Illinois had runners on second and third after Parks was hit by a pitch and Albert recorded his second double of the game.
Nicholas McCormick scored Parks on an RBI groundout to cut the SEMO lead to 7-2 after eight innings in the books.
The Eastern Illinois' bats stayed hot in the ninth inning as
Justin Smith homered to lead off the inning.
Andrew Curran followed the Smith homer with a hit by pitch and found his way to third after a wild pitch and a groundout.
Jimmy Govern and
Logan Beaman worked back to back walks, but SEMO's closer Carlos Vega got the Panthers to roll into a game-ending double play.
Govern and Albert both finished the game with two hits each to lead the EIU offense.
Haberer took the loss on the mound for the Panthers, allowing six runs in four innings pitched.
The two teams will continue their series on Saturday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.
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