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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois (29-15, 10-8 OVC) loses the rubber match in game three vs. Morehead State (21-24, 10-8 OVC) by a final score of 10-3. The Eagles scored five runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead seven to put EIU away. Starting pitcher Ky Hampton suffers his first lose of the year after throwing six innings while allowing 5 hits and four runs with three strikeouts. Ryan Ignoffo and Chris Worcester had the only RBIs on the day for EIU as Worcester drove in two with a double and Ignoffo drove in one with a double. Winning pitcher John Bakke threw seven innings for Morehead State only allowing three runs in the seventh.

QUICK STATS
Ryan Ignoffo: 3-5, 2B, RBI, 
Chris Worcester: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Grant Lashure: 2-3
Logan Eickhoff: 2-5, R
Ky Hampton: L (0-1), 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, BB, 3 K
Hayden Birdsong: 2.0 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 4 K

Through the first couple innings of work, both pitchers kept zeros on the board. EIU had an opportunity to score in the second with bases loaded after two singles and a walk, but Bakke was able to strike out two straight Panthers to end the inning. Hampton only allowed two hits through four innings to start.

The Eagles would strike first in the fifth inning after scoring four runs. Brody Shoupe started the action with a RBI sac bunt to score Chase Vinson from third. After a walk by Hampton, Jackson Feltner delivered a three-run home run to put MSU up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Hayden Birdsong would come in on the mound in the seventh inning, and would give up two quick hits. EIU's defense would get the lead runner out at third on a sac bunt, and then would get two strikeouts from Birdsong to close out the top of the seventh.

The Panthers would score their only runs of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Grant Lashure and Logan Eickhoff both singled to start the inning for EIU. Worcester would deliver a two RBI double to left center field to bring home the runners from first and second. Ignoffo would hit a deep shot to right center on the next play that caused the outfielders to collide and let the ball drop for back-to-back doubles and another run scored.

Birdsong would load the bases in the eighth inning after two singles and a walk. After two more strikeouts by Birdsong, he would throw a wild pitch to bring home Logan Castleman and put MSU up 5-3.

Mac Hickman would enter the game in the ninth and would again load the bases for the Eagles. They would capitalize after a Alex Jacobs double down the right field line that would score two. Nick Gooden would then single up the middle to score another. Colton Becker delivered another sac bunt by Morehead State to score a run, and Vinson ended the ninth with an RBI single to push the lead to 10-3. EIU failed to score in the ninth which ended the game.

EIU scored three runs on 12 hits with no errors, and Morehead State scored 10 runs on 14 hits with no errors. EIU will be back in action next Tuesday, May 10 as they will travel to Macomb, Ill. to face off against Western Illinois at 3:00 p.m. Livestats will be provided.