HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Illinois (9-3) kick of Sunday's double header with a 5-4 win in eight innings against Alabama A&M (1-10). Starting pitcher
Cameron Doherty threw six innings on the day giving up seven hits, three runs, and posting seven strikeouts.
Ryan Ignoffo lead the Panthers at the plate after going 3-4 with two doubles and a homerun while also scoring two runs.
Nathan Aide also collected two RBI in game one.
QUICK STATS:
Ryan Ignoffo: 3-4, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R
Nathan Aide: 1-4, 2 RBI
Chris Worcester: 2-3, 2 R, BB
Bryce Hayman: 1-1, 2B, RBI
Cameron Doherty: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 R, BB, 7 K
Zane Robbins: W (1-0), 1.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
EIU could not get the offense going in the top of the first after going three-up and three-down. Doherty started game one with an impressive first inning which saw him give up a leadoff double but managed to get three outs including one strikeout without giving up a run.
Dalton Doyle manged to get the Panthers on the board after he singled through the right side of the infield, and manged to bring home Worcester home from second after he singled with two outs. Doherty struckout one in the bottom of the second while also producing two groundouts.
Lucas DiLuca hit a double down the left field line in the top of the third, but was left stranded. EIU managed to turn a double play with DiLuca and
Ja'Lil Akbar to end the third.
Ignoffo hit his fourth homerun of the season in the fourth inning to extend the Panthers' lead to 2-0. The Bulldogs would battle back in the bottom of the inning after Jared Tribett managed to double off of Doherty to bring in a run to bring the lead to one for EIU.
After a scoreless fifth inning,
Logan Eickhoff singled to leadoff the inning and advanced to third after Ignoffo doubled to left field. Aide then singled through the right side to score two and put EIU up three. A&M came back in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homerun by Janmikell Bastardo to bring the lead back to one.
EIU manged to get Ignoffo and
Lincoln Riley in scoring position in the seventh but were left scoreless. The Bulldogs tied the game at four a piece after Tim Dixon tripled off of
Zane Robbins and brought home CJ Mervilus.
In the final inning, Worcester was walked to leadoff and advanced to second after a sac bunt by Doyle. Pinch hitter
Bryce Hayman hit the game-winning RBI after he doubled to right center field to bring home to go-ahead run. Robbins collected three straight outs to earn his first victory of the season.
EIU scored five runs on ten hits and no errors. A&M scored four runs on nine hits and had two errors. With the win, EIU has now won five straight games.
