Tweet #W1NasONE

Box Score | Play by Play

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - The Panthers fell 12-3 to the seventh ranked Arkansas Razorbacks Sunday, and losing the series as a whole. The Panthers had their best offensive day against Arkansas so far scoring .... runs. The Panthers come away from this series with some better understanding of what this team is capable of doing as the season starts to progress. Eastern's record falls to 0-3: Arkansas starts off at 3-0. 

Foster Anshutz got the start in today's game, but struggled in the second inning and was relieved for Blake Malatestinic in the second inning. Malatestinic had a solid outing in relief, as he pitched four innings and gave up four runs: nearly all coming in the sixth. The Panthers played six different pitchers in the game. Anshutz is given the loss in his first game of the season.

The Panthers improved offensively again, notching eight hits on the day; their best offensive outing of the series. Ryan Ignoffo continued to show his improvement as a utility as he ended the day going 3-5. He also showed off his speed by beating out a throw from the third baseman, and running down a fly ball into shallow right. Ignoffo ended with five hits on the series, which led the Panthers. 

Ryan Knernschield reached on a walk in the second inning. Dane Toppel followed by picking up the first hit of the game with a single up the middle. Keith Kerrigan ripped a grounder into right field that sent Knernschield home to put the Panthers on the scoreboard early. Tyler Tesmond followed Kerrigan and after a battle at the plate popped up to the shortstop leaving two stranded and ending the inning. Arkansas led 2-1.

Anshutz started the second by walking the first batter, and after a strikeout, allowed a single. Heston Kjerstad homered to deep right center which put Arkansas up 5-1. After another single, Anshutz was relieved for Malatestinic. Malatestinic let up a single with his first batter, and a double up the right field line which scored two more. Malatestinic popped up the following batter and got out of the inning with the lead at 7-1 in favor of Arkansas. 

The Panther bats started to connect in the top of the third as the slapped four straight singles bringing in another run for EIU. Sweeney started the rally with a hit into left field, followed by an Ignoffo hit that dropped into right field. Mackey hit into left and allowed Sweeney to score. Knernschield continued his success as he hit one just out of reach of the center fielder. With bases loaded, Dalton Doyle battled at the plate. Doyle hit into the double play ending the inning for the Panthers offense. Arkansas still held the lead, 7-2.

Malatestinic let up three scores in the sixth inning, including a home run from Kjerstad, his second of the game. Malatestinic finished out the inning, but Jason Anderson was ready for a new pitcher to enter the game.

After a walk by Alex Stevenson in the seventh, Ignoffo came up big again with a hit into right center that sent Stevenson to third. Mackey blasted a ball into deep right, which was caught, but allowed for Stevenson to tag up; giving Mackey his second RBI on the day. Knernschield grounded out to finish the inning for the offense. Arkansas led 10-3.

Jack Wolfe entered the seventh inning for EIU. Wolfe let up a double after an error from Stevenson, and was immediately relieved for the right-hander, Ben Stephens. Stephens let in a double from Kjerstad who sent home his fifth and sixth RBI of the game. Stephens time was short lived as well. After loading the bases, Jason DeCicco was brought in to hopefully get out of the bind. DeCicco obliged as he struck out the final out without giving up a run. Arkansas led 12-3.

Stevenson came into the eighth and was used as the closer for EIU. Stevenson only gave up one hit in his showing and no runs allowed.

Panthers offense wasn't able to come up with and runs in the final inning as they fell 12-3. EIU will be back February 22 to take on Oakland and Alabama State in a double-header.