TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team dropped their 2024 opener against Florida A&M on Friday by a score of 6-5. A strong start from the FAMU pitching staff made things difficult for the Panthers, who came up just short after a ninth inning rally.

Neither team managed to reach base through the first two innings, but in the bottom of the third the Rattlers broke through with a two-out double by Jalen Niles. FAMU then took advantage of a pair of EIU miscues, including a fielding error and wild pitch, to advance around the base path and push three runs across the plate.

The Panthers reached base for the first time this season in the fifth inning behind singles from Lucas Loos and Cole Gober. After a Cade Zalewski walk, Eastern had the bases loaded, but a 5-4-3 double play with one out put an end to the scoring threat.

FAMU padded their lead in the fifth and sixth before a Quade Peters ground ball in the eighth inning brought Grant Lashure home to score, getting EIU on the board.

The Eastern bats would really get to work in the ninth, with Michael O'Conor getting things started with a lead off double. A Lucas Loos single in the next at bat would bring O'Conor home to make the score 6-2.

With their work still cut out for them, the Panthers loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Cole Gober and Chris Worcester, which brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Then, a Cade Zalewski sacrifice fly brought Loos home before a Grant Lashure single drove another run in to cut the lead to two.

Next up was Tyler Castro, who brought Worcester home with another single to pull the Panthers within a single run.

Unfortunately, that is where the Panthers rally came to an end, as FAMU pitcher Grant Harrison recorded back-to-back strikeouts to secure the win for the Rattlers.

Starting pitcher Tyler Conklin (0-1) took the loss for EIU. He was relieved by Bryce Riggs in the seventh inning.

In his collegiate debut, Riggs allowed zero runs and just one hit while striking out four batters in 2.0 innings of work. 

The EIU offense was led by Cole Gober with three hits, while five different Panthers recorded one RBI.

EIU will have ample opportunity to bounce back on Saturday, as they are set for a double header. The first game is scheduled for 11:30 AM, with the second following at 2:30 PM.