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Game One Box l Game Two Box

Clarksville, Tenn. – Eastern Illinois secured the eighth seed in the OVC tournament with their win Saturday afternoon. The Panthers were able to sweep the Governors taking the final two games of the series.

Eastern Illinois improved to 23-30 (12-18 OVC), while Austin Peay dropped to 30-25 (17-13 OVC)
 
Game One: EIU 19, Austin Peay 4
 
Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay had several lightning delays Friday night which ended up suspending play. The two teams continued their game Saturday afternoon picking up in the top of the eighth inning.  Eastern Illinois was able to defeat Austin Peay 19-4 to secure the eighth seed in the OVC tournament.
 
 The Panthers would get on the board first in the top of the fourth inning. Dougie Parks would be the Panthers first baserunner of the inning when he reached on a single to left center. Jimmy Huber would drive in Parks with a two-out double to right center. Ryan Knernschield would drive in the Panthers second run of the inning with a double of his own.
 
The Panthers added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Parks belted a two-run homer to left field marking his 14th home run on the season.
 
David Martinez got the Governor's on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field.
 
Bobby Head would drive in the second run of the game for Austin Peay in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
EIU would extend their lead in the top of the seventh inning when Hunter Morris would drive a two-run single up the middle to score Jimmy Govern and Andrew Curran.
 
Josh Turnock would start the Panthers eighth inning rally off with a hit by pitch. Frankie Perrone would move Turnock into scoring position with a two-out single to short. Curran would drive in the first run of the inning with a single to right field. Joseph Duncan would follow up with a three-run homer to left center. Govern would keep the rally alive reaching on a single to center. Morris would earn his third RBI of the night, driving in Govern with a single to right. Parks would follow up with his second homer of the game and 15th of the season to give the Panthers a 14-2 lead.
 
Perrone added to the Panther lead in the top of the ninth blasting a three run homer to right center. Morris earned another RBI on the day hitting a one run single through the right side. The Panthers would score their fifth run of the inning when Govern would score on a passed ball.
 
Tyler Jones earned the win on the mound for the Panthers improving to 7-3 on the season. Jones tossed 6.0 innings, with five hits, five walks, six strikeouts, and two runs. Alex Stevenson earned his first save of the season tossing three innings of relief. Stevenson finished with six hits, two runs, and two strikeouts.
 
 
Game Two:  Eastern Illinois 9, Austin Peay 3
 
The series finale between Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay was shortened into a seven-inning contest Saturday afternoon.
 
Eastern Illinois took their momentum into the second game of the afternoon scoring first. Parks got the Panthers on the board with a single to center, scoring Duncan.
 
Perrone kept hit his second three-run homer of the afternoon to give Eastern Illinois a 4-0 lead.
 
Austin Peay would cut the Panther lead to one run scoring in both the bottom of the third and fourth innings Malcom Tipler would drive in the Governor's first run of the game. Parker Phillips would drive in the second run of the inning scoring Garrett Giovannelli. Bobby Head would hit a one-run single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Justin Smith would extend the Panther lead to 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning, hitting a one-run single to left field. EIU was able to give their pitching staff run support by adding four runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Dustin Wilson picked up his third win of the season.  Wilson tossed one inning, with one hit, and a strikeout. Jake Haberer picked up his third save of the season tossing two innings, with two hits, two walks, and a strikeout.