INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Eastern Illinois (17-5, 3-0 OVC) take game two of their four-game series against the Butler Bulldogs (12-14, 0-0 Big East) Saturday afternoon as EIU goes on to win by a final of 3-2. Starting RHP
Cameron Doherty (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season after throwing 7.1 innings allowing six hits, two runs and had three strikeouts.
Zane Robbins earned his eighth save of the season which ranks second in the OVC.
Nathan Aide went 3-4 at the plate including a homerun in the fourth inning.
QUICK STATS
Cameron Doherty: W (4-2), 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Nathan Aide: 3-4, HR, RBI, R
Ryan Ignoffo: 2-4, R (15-game hitting streak)
Nicholas Rucker: 2-4, 2B
Zane Robbins: S (8), 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, K
EIU's offense struck fast today after going scoreless in game one of the series against Butler. After a scoreless first inning with both teams going three-up three-down, the Panthers struck first in the second. Ignoffo and Aide lead off the inning with two singles to put runners at the corners.
Travis Reaves then hit into a fielder's choice to score Ignoffo at third to put EIU up 1-0.
Doherty would allow an RBI triple in the bottom half of the second to tie the game at one all. The Panthers defense would throw out the runner at third going home to stop Butler from scoring again.
Ja'Lil Akbar would single to start the third inning followed by a hit-by-pitch for
Lincoln Riley. Both runners would advance after a pass ball.
Lucas DiLuca would single to center field to score Akbar from third to give EIU to lead at 2-1. Doherty would end the third inning with a strikeout.
Aide would lift EIU in the fourth with his homerun to center field that would give EIU a two run lead. That marked Aide's fourth homerun of the season. Doherty would make quick work of the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth.
Eastern would threaten in the fifth with runners on first and third, but failed to add to their lead. Doherty continued to pitch a strong game for EIU has he went three-up three-down in consecutive innings.
Butler would chip away at the lead in the sixth with a homerun by Steinhart off of Doherty to cut the lead to 3-2. Doherty would get out of the innings with no more damage to retain Eastern's lead.
Jesse Wainscott would come in with one out in the bottom of the eighth for EIU to relieve Doherty on the mound. Wainscott would strike out two to retire Butler in the eighth. Robbins would give up a double in the ninth, but managed to close out the game for EIU to pick up his eighth save.
The Panthers would score three runs on 12 hits and have no errors. Butler would score two runs on seven hits with no errors. EIU will be back in action tomorrow as they will play a double header starting at 11 a.m. to close out the four-game series. Livestats and video will be made available.
