Box Score |
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri went head-to-head in the rubber game of their series on Sunday at Coaches Stadium. The Panthers held a lead for most of the game, but a two run eighth inning by the Redhawks lifted SEMO to a 7-6 victory and won the three-game series 2-1 over the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois now stands at 6-25 overall and 3-9 in the OVC following the loss. With the win, SEMO improved to 17-13 on the year and 8-7 in the conference.
The Panthers carried their momentum from yesterday's comeback win into Sunday's game and struck early in the first inning.
Joseph Duncan singled to start the inning for the Panthers and found his way to third with some smart base running.
Dougie Parks found a hole in the left side of the SEMO defense and put the Panthers ahead, 1-0, with an RBI single.
After Southeast Missouri knotted the score in the top of the second, Eastern Illinois answered right back in the bottom-half of the inning.
Frankie Perrone walked to start the inning and found his way on third after a
Justin Smith sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.
Andrew Curran brought Perrone home on a sacrifice bunt and moved up to second on a throwing error by the Redhawks. Duncan and
Jimmy Govern following with back-to-back singles, as Duncan's base hit drove in Curran. Parks plated Duncan with his second RBI single of the game and moved up an extra base on another throwing error by SEMO. A wild pitch allowed Govern to scamper home and put the Panthers ahead by a score of 5-1.
Four-straight hits by SEMO to open up the third inning accounted for two runs for the Redhawks. SEMO tied the score at 5-5 later in the inning after the Redhawks scored a run on a wild pitch and another on an RBI groundout from Kyle Bottger.
After a quiet fourth and fifth inning from both teams, the Panthers got things going again in the sixth. Duncan got hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved up to second on a single by Govern.
Logan Beaman drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases ahead of
Dougie Parks. Parks followed the Beaman walk with a free pass of his own and put the Panthers ahead once again at 6-5.
The SEMO offense came alive again in the eighth as the Redhawks had runners on second and third with just one out in the inning. Josh Haggerty knocked home the game-winning run with a two-run single up the middle as the Redhawks won the rubber game by a score of 7-6.
Duncan, Govern and Parks all finished the game with two hits to lead the EIU offense. Parks recorded a game-high three RBIs for the Panthers. With the two hits, Govern extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Michael Starcevich suffered the loss on the mound, allowing two runs in three innings pitched.
Brendon Allen had a solid relief appearance as he only allowed one hit in four scoreless innings pitched.
The Panthers will complete their four-game home stand with a non-conference contest against Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.
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