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Charleston, Ill- The Eastern Illinois baseball earned their third conference win of the season today defeating Belmont 8-6. The Panthers combined for six unanswered runs through the first four innings of play.
With the win Eastern Illinois advances to 11-20 (3-10 OVC), while Belmont drops to 13-20 (8-8 OVC).
Tyler Jones picked up his fourth win of the season tossing 6.0 innings, with eight hits, six runs (three earned), and four strikeouts. Michael Starcevich came in to relieve Jones in the seventh inning. Starcevich earned himself his sixth save of the season, finishing with two hits, and two strikeouts.
The Panthers struck the scoring column first in the bottom of the first inning. Dougie Parks drove in the first run of the game for the Panthers with a double to left center, which scored Jimmy Govern who reached on a fielders choice earlier in the inning. Hunter Morris would follow up with a single through the right side that would score Parks.
Eastern Illinois would rally in the fourth inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Josh Turnock got the rally kicked off with a leadoff single. After a Matt Albert walk, Ryan Knernschield would move the two base runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Tyler Tesmond would hit a comebacker to Tyler Vaughn who was unable to field the line drive cleanly allowing Turnock to score. Joseph Duncan kept the rally alive belting a double to left which would score Albert. Jimmy Govern was able to clear the bases, hitting a two run single up the middle.
Belmont would put pressure on the EIU pitching staff as they would score five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Hunter Holland led off the inning reaching first on a wild pitch after striking out. A hit by pitch would put Devon Gardner on first. The Bruins would score their first run of the game when Zach Ehrhart hit into a fielders choice. Belmont's offense would hit four straight singles to keep the fifth inning rally alive driving in three runs.
Turnock and Tesmond were able to extend the Panthers lead driving in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Turncok hit a one run single to left, and Tesmond would hit a one run single down the right field line.
Tyler Vaugn suffered the loss on the mound for Belmont tossing 4.0 innings, with eight hits, six runs, two walks, and three strikeouts.
Duncan finished 2-for-5 this afternoon with a double, run, and RBI. Govern finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, a run, and stolen base. Tesmond went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and a run.
