INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Eastern Illinois (17-6, 3-0 OVC) fall in game one of Sunday's double header against the Butler Bulldogs (13-14, 0-0 Big East) by a score of 2-0. Starting pitcher
Blake Malatestinic (3-1) threw 5.2 innings in game one while giving up four hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts.
Ryan Ignoffo was able to keep his hitting streak alive with a team leading 13th double.
Nicholas Rucker also had a double in game one for the Panthers.
QUICK STATS
Ryan Ignoffo: 1-3 , 2B
Blake Malatestinic: L (3-1), 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Nicholas Rucker: 1-3 2B
Lucas DiLuca: 1-2, BB
Tarron Lawson: 1-2
Butler's starting pitcher Nick Eaton was able to set the emple early on while striking out two Panthers in the first inning. Malatestinic came back in the bottom half of the inning to shut down the Bulldogs while going three-up three-down.
The Panthers' bats got going in the second inning after Ignoffo lead off with a double. After a single by
Nathan Aide, Ignoffo was tagged out at third trying to advance. Lawson also singled in the inning to give two runners on for EIU, but failed to score any runs.
Malatestinic gave up a leadoff homerun in the second inning to Billy Wurch to give Butler the early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs added their second run of the day just a few batters later after an RBI double from Garret Gray to put Butler up two.
Both teams would struggle offensively for the rest of the game as EIU would go scoreless. EIU left two men on in the third after
Ja'Lil Akbar and DiLuca reached safely. Malatestinic would settle down go pitch three straight outs in the third.
Relief pitcher Cole Graverson would toss five straight strikeouts between the fourth and fifth inning for Butler to keep EIU off the bases. Derek Drees would enter for Butler to close out the game and pick up his fourth save.Â
EIU would make one last push in the seventh inning after Rucker leadoff the inning with a double.
Bryce Hayman would follow him with a pinch hit walk.
Ben Gallaher would advance the runners with a sac bunt, but EIU would fail to convert after that.
The Panthers had no runs on five hits and had two errors. Butler scored two runs on five hits with no errors. Game Two of Sunday's double header will begin thirty minutes after the conclusion of game one. Livestats and video will be provided.
Â
