SAINT CHARLES, Mo. - Eastern Illinois baseball (16-12, 1-5 OVC) earns their 16th win of the season after a 3-1 victory in the 11th inning at Lindenwood (7-26, 4-5 OVC). Despite only having five hits, EIU wins their first of two midweek games this week.
Lincoln Riley was the hero of Tuesday's night game as he had the go-ahead two RBI single in the top of the 11th inning to secure the Panthers victory.
Ben Gallaher also had two hits for the Panthers in the game.
Relief pitcher
Colton Coca (W, 2-2) earns his second win of the season after pitching the final 2.2 innings while not allowing a hit and striking out four Lions. Easton Rakers suffers the loss for Lindenwood.
QUICK STATS
Lincoln Riley: 1-5, 2 RBI, HBP
Ben Gallaher: 2-3
Nick Laxner: ND, 5.2 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 8 K
Colton Coca: W (2-2), 2.2 IP, 0 H, 4 K
Both offenses started off slow on Tuesday as EIU did not record a hit until the third inning.
Kolten Poorman and Gallaher both had singles in the third, but were left stranded. Laxner allowed a triple in the bottom of the inning, but was able to get out of trouble.
The Panthers had a chance in the fifth inning with the bases loaded after Gallaher, Riley and
Logan Eickhoff all got on base. Jacob Brown came in relief for Lindenwood and got them out of the pinch.
Laxner allowed the only run of the game for Lindenwood in the sixth inning after Logan Stevens drove home Colin Shea. The Lions had the only two extra base hits in the game with a triple and a double by Shea.
Jonathon Hanscom came in relief for Laxner and was able to shut the door on the Lions. EIU would finally tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning after
Grant Lashure got on by error to bring home
Sean Lynch Jr.
Closer
Zane Robbins loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth when Coca came in and was able to get out of the jam with a fly out to right field and his first of four strikeouts.
Riley delivered his first hit of the game in the top of the 11th inning which brought home two runs to give the Panthers their first lead of the game at 3-1. Coca went three up three down in the bottom of the inning to close out the victory.
Eastern Illinois scored three runs on five hits with no errors while Lindenwood scored one run on nine hits with four errors. EIU will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at Coaches Stadiums when the Leathernecks of Western Illinois come to town. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m. For more updates go to eiupanthers.com.
