Box Score |
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – A five-run first inning boosted SIUE to an 11-3 victory over Eastern Illinois as the two teams opened up a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series on Friday night. Eastern Illinois fell to 18-32 (10-15 OVC), while SIUE improved their record to 22-25 (10-15 OVC).
SIUE did not waste any time as the Cougars jumped out front with a big first inning. Alec Skender got hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first and quickly came around to score on an RBI double by Brock Weimer. Dustin Woodcock followed the Weimer double with an RBI double of his own to extend the SIUE lead to 2-0. After working the bases loaded against the Panthers, SIUE brought home two more runs in the inning on a two-run single by Aaron Goecks. Eric Glitz brought home the final run in the inning on an RBI sacrifice bunt and gave the Cougars a 5-0 advantage.
Skender started another rally for SIUE in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out double. Weimer drove in Skender later in the inning with an RBI single and extended the SIUE lead to 6-0.
Eastern Illinois broke the scoring column with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth.
Frankie Perrone and
Hunter Beetley knocked back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second for the Panthers.
Joseph Duncan provided the Panthers with their first run of the game on an RBI single to center and cut the SIUE lead to 6-1.
After SIUE added another run in the bottom of the sixth, Eastern Illinois responded in the top of the eighth.
Logan Beaman laced a ball into center field that landed just out of the reach of the diving fielder and rolled all the way to the wall. Beaman was able to circle the bases on the play for an inside-the-park home run.
Dougie Parks and
Matt Albert followed with a single and a walk to put runners at first and second with two outs.
Josh Turnock singled to right to plate Parks and cut the deficit to 7-3.
SIUE pushed across four runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 11-3 and held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the ninth to pick up the series-opening win.
Brendon Allen took the loss on the mound for the Panthers. In seven and one-third innings pitched, Allen allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with nine strikeouts.
Duncan, Turnock and Beetley all finished the game with two hits each to lead the EIU offense in the series opener.
Eastern Illinois will look to even up the series as the Panthers and Cougars will continue their series on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
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