GAME TWO
The Panthers kicked off the first game of the doubleheader with a jolt of energy from a
Lucas DiLuca double into the outfield.
Logan Eickhoff followed with a single, despite injuring his hand, and Sweeney walked. Knernschield knocked a single to score two and advance Sweeney to third. Doyle grounded out to the shortstop to score Sweeney. Panthers took the 3-0 lead.
Doherty hit a rough patch in the third inning, as the Redhawks scored two, but Doherty turned it up after allowing two earned.Â
The Panthers scored again in the bottom of the third after a reach-on-error, walk, wild pitch, and a sac fly to score one. Panthers had extended their lead to 4-2.
EIU managed to score one more run before the bottom of the sixth when they did the bulk of their damage. Two Panthers started with walks and advanced to second and third base off a balk by the pitcher. DiLuca came through with another massive double to score two. Sweeney pulled a ball through the right side to score DiLuca and put the Panthers up 8-2
The Panthers scored their final run off a wild pitch from SEMO and tied the series at 1-1 with a 9-3 win.
GAME THREE
Southeast Missouri struck first against the Panthers, as
Trevor Nicholson got the start for EIU. They put up two runs, both unearned, in the top of the first.
SEMO put up another run before Nicholson was pulled for the veteran Stevenson. The Redhawks scored once more on a passed ball to put SEMO up 4-0 early.
Knernschield started the lineup in the second innings with a single but was forced out on a grounder by Doyle. Doyle advanced on a throwing error by the second baseman, and a
Christian Pena groundout advanced him to third.
Keith Kerrigan reached on an error that scored Doyle to give EIU their first run of the game.
The Panthers continued to chip away at the lead, as the rally was led by Snapp who led off with a single. Toppel knocked in his first RBI of the game with a single that sent Snapp around the bags to home. Sweeney hit a single to advance the runner to third, and Knernschield laid down a sac bunt to score Toppel. SEMO's lead had been cut down to 4-3.
The Panthers' game-changing inning came in the bottom of the fourth. Kerrigan drew a walk but was forced out on a fielder's choice by
Chase Rademacher. Snapp continued to fluster SEMO's pitching staff as he slammed in a double into left-center. DiLuca drew a walk to juice the bases for Toppel. Toppel waited for his pitch and pulled a hit up the foul line for a base clearing double. Sweeney followed up with a deep home run into center field to claim the 8-4 lead.
Stevenson and Anshutz combined for seven scoreless innings to give EIU their first OVC series win of the season.
ON DECK
The Panthers will finish out their two-game series against Illinois State at Coaches Stadium. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 20, at 3 p.m.
