JONESBORO, Ark. - Eastern Illinois baseball (7-4, 0-0 OVC) took game one of a three game series against the Red Wolves of Arkansas State (7-6, 0-0 SUN BELT) by a final score of 11-8. Seven different Panthers recorded an RBI in the game.
Ryan Ignoffo was able to provide for EIU both at the plate and on the mound. He crushed his fourth home run of the season while also adding three RBI. He also pitched the final four innings for EIU while striking out eight for his second save of the season.
Tyler Conklin (W, 2-1) started the game for the Panthers and pitched for 5.0 innings while giving up six runs on 10 hits. He also had a season tying six strikeouts in the win. Max Charlton (0-1) suffered the loss for ASU after surrendering four runs on two hits.
QUICK STATS
Ryan Ignoffo: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB | S (2), 4.0 IP, 2 R, 8K
Cole Gober: 2-5, RBI, R
Lucas DiLuca: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB
Tyler Conklin: W (2-1), 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Eastern Illinois jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after
Cole Gober's RBI single and a double steal attempt with Gober and Ignoffo at first and third scoring Ignoffo. Conklin would get two early strikeouts in the bottom half.
After two more punch outs by Conkin, Ignoffo would deliver his fourth home run of the season with a solo shot to left field. EIU's lead would not last long as the Red Wolves scored five of their six runs in the bottom of the third.Â
With the bases load, Arkansas State's Brandon Hager and Kody Darcy would deliver singles to drive in three runs off of Conklin. Cross Jumper would tack on another run with an RBI single while Cason Campbell delivered an RBI double to score Darcy.
EIU would tie the game in the fourth at five a piece starting with a double by Kolton Poorman would was driven home by
Ben Gallaher with an RBI single.
Lucas DiLuca would add an RBI double in the next at-bat. ASU's Hager would add the Red Wolves' sixth run with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth.
The Panthers took control of the game during the sixth inning with four runs scored. After two singles and a walk, DiLuca would get his second RBI of the afternoon with a walk with the bases loaded.
Chris Worcester followed that with an RBI single into left field. Ignoffo collected his second and third RBI with a double that gave EIU a 9-6 lead.
Ignoffo would be put in to pitch to start the sixth and would put up big numbers both at the plate and on the mound. He would go one two three to start the sixth while registering two strikeouts. EIU would tack on one in the seventh (
Lincoln Riley RBI walk) and in the eighth (
Cade Zalewski RBI double).
Despite giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, Ignoffo would get back-to-back strikeouts to end the game. He finished the game with a season high in strikeouts (8) and in innings pitched (4.0). He also earned his second save of the season.
Eastern Illinois finished the game with 11 runs scored on 13 hits with no errors. The Red Wolves finished with eight runs on 11 hits with no errors.
Game two will be played tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+. The game was moved up from 3:00 p.m. due to weather.
