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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Eastern Illinois (27-13, 8-6 OVC) lose game one of a double header on Saturday against Tennessee Tech (22-18, 6-8) by a final score of 11-15. The Golden Eagles tie the series at 1-1 after EIU took game one on Friday night by a score of 12-6. Ryan Ignoffo, Nathan Aide, and Nicholas Rucker all hit home runs for the Panthers at the plate. Logan Eickhoff also had two hits for the Panthers. Starting pitcher Cameron Doherty threw 2.2 innings allowing 10 hits and six runs. Tyler Conklin had four strikeouts in four innings of relief for EIU.

QUICK STATS
Nathan Aide: 1-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
Logan Eickhoff: 2-4, R R, BB
Ryan Ignoffo: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Nicholas Rucker: 1-3: HR, RBI, 2 R, BB
Cameron Doherty: L (4-5), 2.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Tyler Conklin: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Eastern went three-up three-down to start the afternoon off starting pitch Matt Gelmore. The Golden Eagles would put runners on first and second against Doherty but were shut down after back-to-back strikeouts from Doherty.
 
Tennessee Tech was the first team to get on the board after Austin Turner hit a sac bunt to second base to score John Dyer. Doherty would get a flyout to end the second.
 
Panthers would strike back in the top of the third after Rucker and Grant Lashure both reached safely to start the inning. Doyle would hit a sac bunt to move the runners over. Rucker would then score off a wild pitch from Gelmore to tie the game at one.
 
Jason Hinchman would single down the left field line to bring home Gabe Lacy after he doubled. Ryan Guardino continued his strong series when he doubled to right field to bring home henchman. Dyer continued the inning with a two-run home run to center field off Doherty. Turner ended the inning for the Golden Eagles with an RBI triple to give TTU a 6-1 lead.
 
After a scoreless fourth from the Panthers, Tennessee Tech would add four more to their lead. Guardino singled to center field to collect an RBI. Golston Gillespie then added a two RBI single through the right side and was followed by an RBI single by Noah Hattier to push the lead to 10-1.
 
The Panthers would have runners on in the fifth but were doubled up off a strikeout by Riley and a pick off from TTU's catcher to first to get Dalton Doyle. Tennessee Tech added another runoff a sac fly by Guardino to extend their lead to 10.
 
EIU would start to climb their way back in the top of the sixth with five runs added to their total. After two singles by Lucas DiLuca and Eickhoff and a walk by Ignoffo, Aide would hit a grand slam to cut the lead to five. Nicholas Rucker then followed Aide with a solo home run for the Panthers' second home run of the inning. TTU's Gillespie hit a leadoff homerun off Tyler Conklin for their only run of the inning.
 
Ignoffo hit his 12^th homerun of the season after a no-doubt two run home run to left field off Colt Taylor in the top of the seventh. Guardino collected his sixth RBI on the game after a three-run home run in the bottom half of the seventh inning.
 
Chris Worcester started the eighth inning with a double to left center and was followed by Ben Gallaher who picked up an RBI single up the middle. EIU scored in three straight innings after the RBI by Gallaher. Riley would drive in a run after he grounded out to shortstop, and Doyle would add the final run in the eighth after a pass ball to cut the lead to 15-11. EIU would go scoreless in the top of the ninth to end the game.

EIU score 11 runs on nine hits and had one error. TTU scored 15 runs on 19 hits and posted one error. Game two of Saturday's double header will start at 4:45 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and livestats will be available.