Game One Box |
Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King) |
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Due to inclement weather in the forecast in the area, Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay shifted their weekend schedule to include a doubleheader on Thursday. EIU starting pitcher
Brendon Allen shut down the Austin Peay offense through eight innings as the Panthers picked up a 7-4 win in the series opener. Mother Nature got the best of the Panthers and Governors as a lightning delay caused the two teams to suspend the second game of Thursday's twin bill in the bottom of the 10th inning with Austin Peay ahead, 9-6.
Weather permitting, the two teams are set to resume the suspended game at 12 p.m. on Friday with the series finale occurring approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the suspended game. The Panthers will honor five seniors –
Brendon Allen,
Alex Cain,
Matt Dunavant,
Michael McCormick and
Chase Thurston – with a "Senior Day" celebration prior to the start of the suspended game.
Following the game one victory, Eastern Illinois improved their record to 21-33 and 12-16 in the OVC. Austin Peay dropped to 24-28 and 11-16 in the conference.
Game One: EIU 7, APSU 4
Allen kept the Austin Peay offense in check through eight innings pitched, but the Governors rallied late in the top of the ninth inning. After Austin Peay scored three runs in the top of the ninth,
Michael Starcevich came in to close the door and picked up his sixth save of the season.
After Austin Peay put a run across in the top of the first to open the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, Eastern Illinois responded to tie the game in the bottom-half of the inning.
Joseph Duncan led off the inning with a double to left and advanced to third on a groundout.
Logan Beaman dropped down a well-placed bunt down the third-base line for a single that brought in Duncan and tied the score at one.
Just like the first inning, Eastern Illinois got things going with a lead-off double, this time off the bat of
Hunter Beetley.
Andrew Curran moved Beetley to third with a sacrifice bunt. Duncan followed the bunt with an RBI single to put the Panthers ahead, 2-1.
The Panthers broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning with five runs in the frame.
Matt Albert started the rally with a lead-off solo home run to left.
Josh Turnock was hit by a pitch following the home run and moved up to second after a single by Beetley. Curran moved the pair up to second and third with another sacrifice bunt. Eastern Illinois took advantage of the two runners in scoring position as Duncan singled to plate the pair and advanced two second on the attempted throw by Austin Peay trying to catch Turnock at the plate.
Jimmy Govern and Beaman followed with back-to-back RBI hits to extend the EIU lead to 6-1.
After the first inning run, Allen threw seven consecutive scoreless innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the ninth. With two runners aboard, Max Remy knocked a pinch-hit two-run triple into the gap in right-center field. Imani Willis followed the triple with an RBI base hit that pulled the Governors within three at 7-4. The Panthers went to their bullpen after the Willis single and allowed just one more hit the rest of the inning as Starcevich got the final APSU batter to strikeout to seal the victory.
Allen picked up his second win of the season as the senior allowed just four runs on 10 hits in eight innings of work. He finished the game with seven strikeouts.
Duncan finished the series opener 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the EIU offense. Govern, Beaman and Beetley added two hits each in the win.
Game Two: APSU 9, EIU 6 (suspended in the bottom of the 10th)
With the bases loaded and down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth inning, Beetley got hit by a pitch bring home a run and tied the score at six to send the game into extra innings.
Austin Peay regained the lead in the top-half of the 10th inning on a three-run home run by Willis.
The two teams attempted to finish the game, but lightning in the area caused the game to be delayed and eventually suspended in the bottom of the 10th.
A full recap will be provided upon the completion of the suspended game.
Be sure to check eiupanthers.com or follow @EIU_Panthers on twitter for up to date information on potential schedule changes. Â
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