Photo Gallery | By
Sandy King
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois baseball (23-21, 13-14 OVC) clinched the series in the ninth inning of play against Austin Peay (17-29, 12-12 OVC). The Panthers allowed four runs in the top of the ninth, putting the Governors in the driver's seat heading into the final half-inning. The Panthers constructed an unheard-of rally of four hits along with a crucial error that allowed the Panthers another opportunity.
Dalton Doyle stepped into the box and delivered one of the biggest hits of the season. A single to right field scored the game-winning run and clinched the Panthers fourth OVC series win of the season.
QUICK HITS
- Dalton Doyle went 2-5, hit a double, and brought home the two game-winning runs.
- Trey Sweeney drew three intentional walks and recorded two runs.
- Lucas DiLuca went 2-4, recorded two runs, notched one RBI, and recorded a walk.
- Ryan Ignoffo scored a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
- Christian Pena went 1-2, recorded a run, and drew two walks.
- Trevor Nicholson went seven innings, allowing one hit through six.
GAME THREE
Both the Panthers and Governors were off to a slow start in the series finale. It wasn't until the fifth inning that the Panthers broke the scoreless tie. DiLuca managed a walk on four straight pitches, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch to Sweeney, the Governors decided they weren't going to give the OVC's RBI leader a chance to pad his stats; intentionally walking the shortstop. Ignoffo made Austin Peay pay with a three-run shot over the right-field fence, giving EIU a 3-0 lead.
Austin Peay tied the ballgame back up after a four-hit, three-run seventh inning.
In the ninth inning, the Govs went through their entire lineup while adding four runs.
Tarron Lawson stepped into the box, leading off the Panthers' final shot, and delivered a sharp ground ball through the right side to put a runner on and kick-start the rally. Pena followed with a single through the opposite side to put runners on first and second. They advanced after a wild pitch, and with two outs, DiLuca poked a grounder just past the outstretched glove of the Austin Peay second basemen.Â
The Governors again decided that they were better off taking the bat out of Sweeney's hands as they loaded the bases for Ignoffo. Ignoffo hit a ball to the shortstop, but the Governors infielder threw it into the dirt out of the reach of the first baseman, as two Panthers scored to put the lead at 7-6 in favor of APSU.
Ryan Knernschield had a battle for the ages, as he fought tooth and nail for a walk to keep the rally going.Â
After a long stare at his bat and breath, he stepped into the batter's box and cracked a ball to right field just in front of the outfielder. His heroics scored the go-ahead run and gave EIU the 8-7 victory.
ON DECK
The Panthers will travel to St. Louis on May 13 to face the Billikens before hosting them for a May 15 doubleheader at Coaches Stadium.Â
