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The Eastern Illinois baseball team kicked off their non-conference weekend series against Virginia Military Institute Thursday afternoon. The Keydets got the best of the Panthers, defeating EIU 5-4.
 
Michael YaSenka got the ball on the hill for the Panthers to open the series. YaSenka fell to 4-7 on the season with the loss after tossing five innings with nine strikeouts.
 
Ryan Hatten got the Keydets on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run homer to left center.
 
The Panthers would respond in the top of the third when Christian Pena would drive in their first run with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
VMI would jump out to a 5-1 lead scoring one run in the bottom of the fourth and two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
The Panthers were able to score late to cut the Keydets lead to one run. Jimmy Huber kicked off the late inning rally for the Panthers with a solo homerun to right center in the top of the eighth. The Panthers would score two runs in the top of the ninth inning but the Keydets were able to hold them off to secure the series opening victory.
 
Jacob Menders earned the win on the mound for the Keydets, improving to 5-4 on the season. Menders tossed five innings with one strikeout. Zak Kent earned his first save of the season tossing three innings with two strikeouts.
 
The two teams will return to action at 2 pm tomorrow for the second game of the series.