GAME ONE
Eastern Illinois was off to a strong start offensively in Saturday's opening game. The Panthers put up three runs in the first inning that was started by a
Lucas DiLuca single to center. Eickhoff followed up with a single of his own and managed to reach second on a fielding error by a Tennessee Tech outfielder. Pena managed a walk, and Kerrigan knocked in a single to bring home two and put runners on the corners. A wild pitch sent
Christian Pena home and gave EIU a three-run lead.Â
The Golden Eagles struck back quickly with a two-run homer with no outs in the first inning. The Panthers still led 3-2.
Chase Rademacher led off the second and reached base on a single into right-field. Toppel followed with a single that kept the line moving. DiLuca laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners out of the threat of a double-play, which brought up Eickhoff. He singled to score the runner to put EIU up 4-2. Sweeney walked to load the bases for Pena, who followed with a walk of his own to bring in another run.Â
TTU scored another run in the bottom of the second to put the lead at 5-3 in the Panthers' favor.
Lang entered in the third to relieve
Trevor Nicholson.Â
The Panthers managed to put up six more runs before their biggest inning of the day, where they put up four runs in the seventh inning. In the seventh, the Panthers continued to find ways to get on base.
Dane Toppel managed to start the inning off by reaching on a fielding error that put the top of the line-up up with no outs. DiLuca drew a walk, Eickhoff singled to score one, Pena walked, Kerrigan grounded out to score a runner, and to cap it off, Doyle ripped a triple down the right-field line to score two more. The Panthers had busted the lead open with a 15-5 lead.
Doherty had entered after one inning from Lang and pitched perfectly for the Panthers. The offense was able to secure the win for Lang, and Doherty managed to pitch six innings with seven K's and let up only one run.
To finish the scoring off for EIU,
Ben Snapp and Eickhoff both managed to single to get on base. Sweeney followed them with a home run to cash home three more and secure the win for the Panthers, 18-6.
GAME TWO
Eastern Illinois didn't manage to get the offense rolling as quickly in game two. The Panthers didn't get on the board until the fifth inning where they scored two runs.
Ky Hampton got the start in game two. Tennessee Tech managed to put up seven runs against him through seven innings.Â
The Panthers had turned the tides in the top of the eighth inning. Eastern Illinois was sparked by an Eickhoff single that was followed by a homer from Sweeney to right field to pull EIU within two runs. Doyle followed up with a solo home run to put Tennessee Tech's lead to 7-6 heading into the final inning.
Ryan Ignoffo entered in relief for Hampton after having an impressive four strikeouts in his last appearance against Murray State. He continued to have success at the bump, striking out one and retiring the other two via the flyout.
The Panthers had one final shot to clinch the game and the series. Rademacher pinch hit for Snapp and walked on a full count to put the tying run on first.
Sean Lynch Jr. entered the game to pinch run for Rademacher, which put Toppel up to bat. Lynch Jr. advanced on a wild pitch, and Toppel walked. DiLuca singled to load the bases for Eickhoff, who was hit by a pitch to bring home the tying run. Sweeney came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. He grounded out to the shortstop, but Toppel crossed home to score and put EIU up 8-7.Â
Stevenson entered in a potential save situation, but the Tennessee Tech Golder Eagles managed to score a run to tie the ball game to head into extra innings.
In the 10th, the Golden Eagles walked the game off with a homer to left field. The Panthers fell 9-8.
