RANTOUL, Ill. - Eastern Illinois (18-7, 3-0 OVC) earns their first home victory of the season as they took down the Bellarmine Knights (3-25, 1-8 ASUN) at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex. The EIU pitching staff was lead by relieverÂ
Jason DeCicco as he pitched 3.0 innings, allowed two hits, one run, and had three strikeouts.
Zane Robbins also picked up his ninth save of the season which is good for second in the OVC and puts him in second all-time in a single season for EIU.
Nathan Aide and
Lucas DiLuca were the hot bats on offense as each had a triple and three RBIs in the game.
QUICK STATS
Lucas DiLuca:Â 2-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 2BB
Nathan Aide: 2-5, 3B, 3 RBI, R, SB
Sean Lynch: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
Lincoln Riley: 2-4, RBI, 3 R, HBP
Jason DeCicco: W (1-0), 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Zane Robbins: S (9), 1.0 IP, H, 2 SO
The Panthers were able to strike first at home in the first inning when Riley scored after singling to leadoff the game, and was advanced to third after a DiLuca walk and a fielder's choice by
Logan Eickhoff. Bellarmine's starting pitcher Matt Craven had a throwing error to first which scored Riley.
Bellarmine bounced back in the second inning with three runs scored on starting pitcher
Hayden Birdsong. The Knights scored on a fielder's choice, then Matt Higgins stepped up and hit a two-run shot for Bellarmine to make the score 3-1.Â
EIU would fight back in the bottom of the second, and put up four more runs.
Nicholas Rucker and
Ben Gallaher started off the inning with a walk and a error by the second baseman. After a
Ja'Lil Akbar hit by pitch, the bases were loaded for Riley who delivered an RBI single to center field. DiLuca would come up with a huge three-run triple for EIU to put the Panthers back up 5-3.
After a scoreless third and fourth inning, EIU was primed to score in the fifth with bases loaded. DiLuca singled to start the inning and was able to advance to third and a steal and a pass ball.
Dalton Doyle and Rucker followed that up with two walks. With bases loaded, Bellarmine got out of the jam with a Gallaher flyout.
In the top of the sixth, Bellarmine's Peyton Back hit a solo shot to left field to bring the Knights to within one run. EIU would get out of the top without any more runs given up. Lynch would leadoff the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to left field, and give EIU a two run lead. Akbar would follow him with a double. Eickhoff would walk to bring up Aide who would triple down the right field line to bring two more runs home. Doyle would be walked the next at-bat and give enough time in a run-down at second base to score Aide from third to put EIU up 9-4.
The top of the eighth would bring trouble for EIU as Bellarmine would cut the lead to one. Ashton Smith for BU was able to double to left field to score one to leadoff the inning. Ockerman would hit into a fielder's choice, but would score one from third. Higgins stepped back up to the plate to hit his second homerun of the afternoon to cut the lead to one heading into the bottom of the inning.
Akbar, Riley, and DiLuca were all put on base to start the bottom half of the eighth. Eickhoff hit into a double play at second and first, but was able to bring the first insurance run home. Aide would come up to the plate with his second clutch triple of the afternoon to bring EIU's lead to 11-8.
Robbins entered the game in the top of the ninth and picked up two strikeouts and a save for EIU. The Panthers earned their 18th win of the season on Tuesday.
EIU scored 11 runs on eight hits and had one error. Bellarmine scored eight runs on 10 hits and had three errors. The Panthers will be back in action on Wednesday in Rantoul, Ill. for their matchup against NAIA opponent Saint Xavier at 4:00 p.m.
Â
