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Photo Gallery | By Sandy King

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois (9-7, 1-2 OVC) split the day and fell in the series 2-1 to the Murray State Racers (7-8, 2-1 OVC). In the first game of the double-header, the Panthers were able to pull off the 14-10 win but fell 15-5 in game two. The Panthers were led on the day by Logan Eickhoff, who went 7-10 from the plate in both games. The right-fielder accounted for four RBI and four runs in today's game.

QUICK HITS

GAME TWO
Murray State started the game off with a 3-0 lead to put the Panther in an early deficit. A double, home run, and ground out to score a runner put Ky Hampton in a tough spot early in his start. 

The Racers were able to tack one more on against Hampton before the Panther bats found the ball.

Dalton Doyle entered in the lead-off spot for EIU at the bottom of the second. Doyle started the Panthers off with a blast to give EIU their first score of the game. 

Murray State followed in the fourth with a lead-off double, which was later brought home by a single into center field to put Murray State up 5-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers found their mojo, knocking in five runs on five hits. DiLuca started the Panthers off with a single that was followed by an Eickhoff single to right. Sweeney grounded out to first to advance the runners and score DiLuca. Pena kept the line moving with a single to score Eickhoff. Keith Kerrigan and Doyle both reach to bring up Snapp, who flies out to score Pena. Rademacher singled to right-center to score Doyle and Kerrigan and put the Panther atop 6-5.

Doherty entered in relief for Hampton in the fourth. He allowed one unearned on an error by the catcher.

Doherty gained the lead and never relinquished it to give EIU the win 14-10.

GAME THREE
Birdsong held the Racers at bay in the early innings of the game. The redshirt freshman mowed down Murray State in the first inning, allowing no hits.

The Panther bats continued to stay hot coming off the game two win, as they put up two runs in the first off a Pena single to score Eickhoff and a fielder's choice by Kerrigan that scored Sweeney.

The Racers struck back in the second with a lead-off homer to deep center field. Murray State managed to score one more run on a sacrifice fly to Snapp in left field. The Racers had tied it 2-2.

The Panthers countered with two more runs. Two walks and a single brought up Eickhoff, who scored Lawson on a Murray State error in right field. Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly to score Toppel to put EIU back in the driver's seat, 4-2.

Birdsong quickly sat down the top of the Racers lineup in the top of the third.

Birdsong gave up a three-run homer that ended his day at the mound for EIU, bringing out Alex Stevenson. Stevenson let up two home runs to put Murray State in a commanding 10-4 lead.

The Panthers had fallen to 15-4 heading into the bottom of the innings. Drew Reischman entered as a pinch hitter and knocked home his first single and hit of his Panthers career. Smith doubled to put Reischman at third base, and an Eickhoff sacrifice fly scored Reischman. The Panthers fell 15-5 in game two.

ON DECK
The Panthers will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to take on Alabama State on Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17.