CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Eastern Illinois (24-9, 7-2 OVC) lost game three of a three-game series to Austin Peay (14-22, 7-5 OVC) by a final score of 8-4 in seven innings. Panthers were held to two hits in game three including a grand slam by
Bryce Hayman in the seventh inning. Starting pitcher
Blake Malatestinic (4-2) threw 4.0 innings allowing seven hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts.
Lucas DiLuca had the other hit for the Panthers.
QUICK STATS
Bryce Hayman: 1-3, HR, 4 RBI, R
Lucas DiLuca: 1-1, BB
Blake Malatestinic: L (4-2), 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 4 K
Jackson Nichols: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB
Tyler Conklin: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, K
DiLuca had one of two hits for the Panthers in Saturday's second game in the first inning, but was left stranded. After allowing a leadoff double by Gino Avros, Malatestinic was able to get out of the inning without any more damage.
Austin Peay's starting pitcher Drew McIllwain was able to go to work early in the ballgame collecting two strikeouts in the second inning. In the bottom of the second, the Governors jumped on Malatestinic with a hit-by-pitch and two singles to load the bases. Skyler Luna would hit a sac fly to center field to score one and give the Governors the early lead.Â
Both pitcher would find success in the third and fourth inning without giving up any further damage. Malatestinic would start the fifth inning off with a walk, then allowed a two-run homerun to Jack Alexander the next at bat. The Governors would hit back-to-back doubles including an RBI double from Harrison Brown to extend their lead. Nichols would replace Malatestinic in the inning. John Bolton would hit a single off of Nichols to send Brown home. After two walks, Ty DeLancey would capitalize with a two out double to right field to bring two more home and put Austin Peay up 7-0.Â
The Panthers did not find any offense in the sixth with three straight outs from McIllwain.
Tyler Conklin would replace Nichols on the mound in the bottom half of the inning. He would allow another pair of back-to-back doubles including an Brown's RBI double to put APSU up eight.
McIllwain would walk three straight Panthers in the seventh including pinch hitters
Collin Kalinowski,
Tarron Lawson, and Sean Lynch.
Bryce Hayman would then step up with a big grand slam to right field to put EIU on the board, and give them their second hit of game three. Collin Loose would come in on the mound for McIllwain and get a strikeout to end the game at 8-4.
EIU scored four runs on two hits and no errors. The Governors would score eight runs on 11 hits with no errors. The Panthers will be back in Rantoul, Ill. for a midweek matchup with McKendree on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Livestats will be made available.
