CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Eastern Illinois baseball (20-13, 3-6 OVC) defeated the Fighting Illini of Illinois (15-18, 4-8 Big Ten) in Champaign, Ill. Tuesday evening in 12 innings by a final score of 1-0. The Panthers have now won at Illinois the past two seasons.
EIU has now played five extra innings game this season and have a 4-1 record in those games. It is the most extra inning games played in a season since the 2017 season (5). Panthers have also defeated their second Power Five school of the season (No. 3 Arkansas), the first time since 2013.
Ryan Ignoffo led the Panthers at the plate and on the mound going 3-5 with a run scored and also threw in 2.1 innings and allowed one hits and posted three strikeouts.
Grant Lashure had the game winning RBI in the 12th inning to score Ignoffo.
Zane Robbins (W, 3-1) claimed the win for the Panthers after throwing in 1.2 innings in relief of Ignoffo and picked up two strikeouts.
Jonathon Hanscom took home the save after throwing in the bottom of the 12th inning. Korey Bunselmeyer suffered the loss for Illinois.
QUICK STATS
Ryan Ignoffo: 3-5, R | 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Grant Lashure: 1-5, RBI
Nick Laxner: ND, 6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 K
Zane Robbins: W (3-1), 0 H, BB, 2 K
Jonathon Hanscom: S (2), 1.0 IP, H, K
Eastern Illinois and Illinois were in a pitching duel on Tuesday night as both teams used five pitchers each in an extended game. The Panthers' starting pitcher
Nick Laxner went six innings for EIU and allowed only three hits with three strikeouts.
It marks the second time this season Laxner has gone at least six innings and has allowed three hits or less. Laxner got out of a jam in the fourth inning when the Illini had two runners on, but Laxner got a strike out to end the inning.
Eastern's defense continued their strong field play with two double plays turned in the ball game. The first came in the fifth inning after Illinois got a single, but Laxner got out of a jam with a 6-4-3 DP.
With a runner on second in the 10th inning, Robbins was able to pitch into a double play to end the inning. Panthers left 10 runners stranded in the game.
Eastern Illinois saw their opportunity in the top of the 12th inning after Ignoffo led of the inning with a single.
Robby Taul then moved Ignoffo to second with a sac bunt. With two outs, Lashure hit a single into right field to bring home Ignoffo.
Hanscom came in during the 12th inning and shut down the Illinois offense and secured Eastern's 20th win of the season.
EIU scored one run on six hits with two errors. Illinois scored no runs on five hits with one error. The Panthers will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at Coaches Stadium when Saint Xavier comes to town. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
