Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

PDF Box

Charleston, Ill – Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech put on an offensive showcase in their series finale Sunday as the two teams combined for a total 37 runs, but it was the Golden Eagles who took control late in the game scoring 24 unanswered runs defeating the Panthers 26-11.

Eastern Illinois dropped to 9-17 (1-8 OVC), while Tennessee Tech improved to 21-5 (11-1 OVC) on the season.

The Panthers opened up the series finale attacking the Golden Eagle pitching staff early. EIU scored five unanswered runs through four innings of play. Hunter Morris contributed to two of the runs batted in throughout the four innings with a sacrifice fly in the first, and a single through the right side in the fourth. Jimmy Huber and Dougie Parks extended the Panther lead in the bottom of the second inning. Huber drove in a run with a double to left, while Parks would hit a two run single up the middle in the following at bat.

Tennessee Tech would battle back against Spenser Dexter in the top of the fifth inning scoring two runs. David Garza got the Golden Eagles on the board when he grounded out to third scoring Matt Chambers. Later in the inning Brennon Kaleiwahea would single through the right side to drive in John Ham for the Golden Eagles second run of the game.

The bottom of the fifth inning would spark the eight home runs seen during the Sunday afternoon conference showdown. After having a bases loaded wild pitch that would score Joseph Duncan for the Panthers first run of the inning, Morris found himself in another RBI situation with the bases loaded with one out. Morris drove his second grand slam of the season to center field, giving the Panthers a 10-2 lead.

The Golden Eagles would take control of the game offensively from the sixth inning on as they were able to score a total of 26 unanswered runs. Tennessee Tech combined for six home runs over the span of three innings. Trevor Putzig, Kevin Strohschein, Alex Junior, Ham, Kaleiwahea, and Anthony Carrera all went deep throughout the three inning rally.

Alex Stevenson would give the Panthers life in the ninth inning as he belted his first career home run to center field. However, despite the late attempt at the comeback Tennessee Tech was able to complete the sweep against EIU.

Carson Haws (1-4) suffered the loss on the mound for the Panthers tossing 0.1 innings with five runs.

Morris finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with six RBIs, home run, and a run. Parks went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two walks, and a run. Huber finished 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs, a double, and a RBI.