JONESBORO, Ark. - After two days of rain delays, Eastern Illinois baseball (8-4, 0-0 OVC) swept the Red Wolves of Arkansas State (7-7, 0-0 Sun Belt) in game two by a final score of 12-6 in 10 innings. Game three of the series was canceled.
With one out in the top of the 10th inning, EIU rattled off six runs to earn their eighth win of the season.
Lincoln Riley,
Ryan Ignoffo and
Robby Taul all had two RBI for EIU during the game. Five different Panthers had multiple hits in the win.
Zane Robbins (W, 2-1) gets the win after pitching in the ninth inning for EIU. Kevin Wiseman suffers the loss for the Red Wolves after allowing one run in the top of the 10th.
QUICK STATS
Robby Taul: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Lucas DiLuca: 2-4, RBI, R, BB
Ryan Ignoffo: 2-7, 2 RBI, R
Ky Matthews-Hampton: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 K
Zane Robbins: W (2-1), 1.0 IP, H, R, 2 K
In a game that started on Saturday morning, starting pitcher Ky Hampton found himself in an early hole after an RBI single by Kody Darcy which gave ASU the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Riley was also hit by a pitch in the first, the first of four times during the game (EIU record).
After three straight singles by EIU in the top of the second, Riley was hit for the second time during the game to bring home a run and tie the game up at one a piece. Riley's two RBI in the game both came without a hit.
Arkansas State's Darcy would earn two more RBI after a home run in the bottom of the fourth off of Hampton to push the lead to 3-1. The game would be delayed due to rain in the top of the fifth and was resumed on Monday.
With two scoreless innings in part to Jonathan Hanscom on the mound for EIU, the Panthers would strike back with a five-run seventh to push the lead to 6-3.
Cade Zalewski and
Grant Lashure both had RBI singles while
Kolten Poorman reached on an error which brought home two more.
Lucas DiLuca would walk home another run for EIU in the inning.
Blake Burris for the Red Wolves cut the EIU lead after and RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. Another run would score off an error by the Panthers which brought the score to 6-5.
Winning pitcher
Zane Robbins would come on in the ninth inning and would allow one run off a pass ball which tied the game at 6-6.
In the top of the 10th Eastern Illinois would secure the victory with six runs scored off of three different pitchers for ASU. With the bases loaded, Taul would bring home two runs with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. DiLuca would follow that with an RBI single.
Riley was walked with the bases loaded to bring home his second non-hit RBI of the afternoon. Ignoffo would finish off the inning with a two RBI single which put the game out of reach.
Jackson Nichols would close of the 10th by only allowing one hit through four batters.
Eastern Illinois would score 12 runs on 14 hits with two errors while Arkansas State scored six runs on 10 hits with one error.
The Panthers will be back in action starting tomorrow, March 14 at Arkansas Pine-Bluff for a two-game midweek series starting at 3:00 p.m. CT. Livestats will be available at eiupanthers.com.
