CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois (17-14, 7-8 OVC) defeated the Maryville Saints (10-14, 8-8 GLVC) in grand fashion.
Christian Pena's eighth-inning grand slam sealed the victory for the Panthers, as they won their tenth non-conference win of the season.
Ryan Ignoffo was awarded the win after 1.1 innings of work with two strikeouts.
Hayden Birdsong shut the door on any prayer of the Saints mounting a comeback. The Panthers won, 10-3.
QUICK HITS
- Christian Pena hit a grand slam against the Saints: The last time a Panther hit a grand slam was Pena at VMI in 2019.
- Trey Sweeney notched his tenth home run of the season.
- Lucas DiLuca went 3-4 at the plate, drew a walk, scored two runs, recorded an RBI, and stole a base.
- Dalton Doyle went 2-4 with a double and drew a walk.
- Ryan Ignoffo recorded his second win of the season.
- Hayden Birdsong recorded his first save of the season.
GAME ONE
The Saints were quick to set the tone as their lead-off batter roped a triple into right-center field.
Kyle Lang was given the start but had let up a 1-0 start early.
Eastern Illinois tied the game in the bottom of the third, as a wild pitch scored
Sean Lynch Jr. Maryville quickly responded with a solo shot to deep center field, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead.
Maryville added another run before the Panthers struck back.
Tarron Lawson started the inning with a double into right-center, followed by a Lynch Jr. single to put runners at the corners. DiLuca poked in a single and advanced to second on the throw to home as he scored Lawson.
Dane Toppel grounded out to the shortstop but scored another Panther and put Sweeney in the batters' box. Sweeney struck out but reached first on a wild pitch that sent another Panther home to score. Sweeney scored the same as he reached base: on a wild pitch. This gave the Panthers a 5-3 lead heading into the sixth.
Sweeney's solo homer in the seventh gave Panthers plenty of insurance, growing the lead to 6-3, but the Panthers wanted more. In the eighth, with DiLuca, Sweeney, and
Ryan Knernschield on base,
Christian Pena stepped into the batters' box and belted a deep shot over the fence to emphatically send the Saints marching home. The Panthers won 10-3.
ON DECK
Eastern Illinois will travel to Morehead State to face the Eagles for a four-game series. The opening game will be on Friday, Apr. 16, and will start at 11 a.m.
