GRAMBLING, La -Â Eastern Illinois (4-3) takes game one of a three game series against Grambling State (2-6) by a score of 7-4. Starting pitcher
Trevor Nicholson pitched six innings for the Panthers while striking out 12 batters. He is the first Panther since Brendon Allen in 2017 to strikeout at least 12 batters. EIU has a team struck out 19 batters in game one.
Lucas DiLuca manged to go 2-5 on the day with a double, two runs scored, and a RBI.
QUICK STATS
Trevor Nicholson: W (1-0), 6.0 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 12 K
Lucas DiLuca: 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Logan Eickhoff: 2-5, R
Nathan Aide: 1-3, 3B, RBI, BB
Chris Worcester: 1-3, R, BB
Zan Robbins: S (1), 0.2 IP, 2 K, 0 H, 0 R
Ryan Ignoffo: 1.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 2 K
Grambling State took the early lead on the Panthers in the first after the Tigers had a runner on off a single, and Cameron Bufford hit him home off a triple. It marked the first extra base hit that Nicholson has given up on the season. EIU managed to strand a runner to leave the first down 1-0.
Nicholson would bounce back in the second inning after the Panthers were shutout in the top of the inning. The Tigers went three-up, three-down with three Ks for Nicholson in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the third,
Bryce Hayman manged to get on first after an error by Grambling State's third baseman. He then moved to second on a wild pitch by Page Semar.
Lincoln Riley singled through the left side of the infield to give the Panthers runners at the corners. Eickhoff manged to reach on an error by the third baseman to score Hayman from third to tie the game up at 1-1. Nicholson again was able to strand one runner in the bottom of the third while also picking up two more strikeouts.
The Tigers and Panthers were dead even in the fourth and fifth innings with both teams giving up one hit and no runs. Nicholson picked up his last three strikeouts in the bottom half of the sixth inning to give home 12 for the game, the most by a Panther since 2017.
EIU would capitalize on two errors by the Tigers in the seventh to give them their first lead of the game. Worcester started off the inning with a walk and after a strikeout by Hayman, Gallaher was hit by a pitch to give EIU runners on first and second. After a Riley walk to load the bases, DiLuca singled to left field to score Worcester from third. Aide struckout swinging but was safe at first after an error by Grambling's catcher which scored another run. A wild pitch by Corben Peters was able to bring home Riley. The Panthers scored their final run of the inning after Ignoffo reached safely at first from an error by the shortstop to bring home DiLuca to bring to lead to 5-1.
EIU was held in check in the top of the eighth, but saw their lead cut to one after a three run inning from the Tigers. Grambling's Bufford hit a solo homerun to leadoff the inning for GSU. After a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a error by Worcester, Keshon Hall manged to double off of Ignoffo to score two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to make the score 5-4.
The Panthers managed to break open their lead more in the top of the ninth. DiLuca lead off the inning with a double to left field, and Eickhoff followed him with a single which scored DiLica after an error by the left fielder. Aide would then collect his first triple of the year to score Eickhoff from third and bring the lead to 7-4.
Grambling State threatened in the ninth with bases loaded with one out, but Robbins would come in and strike out the only two batters he faced to pick up his first save of the season, and the opening game victory for Eastern Illinois.
Eastern would finish the game with seven runs on seven hits, and had three errors. GSU posted four runs on 12 hits and committed five errors.
Game two will start at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at Wilber Ellis Field at RWE Jones Park. Recap to follow shortly after the game.
