CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team (5-10, 0-0 OVC) suffered a pair of setbacks in their doubleheader at Western Carolina (9-10, 0-0 SoCon) on Friday.

Game 1 – EIU 3, WCU 5

The Panthers fell in game one despite possessing the lead for six innings, as four unearned runs in the eighth allowed the Catamounts to come from behind and steal the series opener.

Tyler Conklin recorded another strong performance on the mound as he allowed just one run on six hits with three strikeouts through the game's first six innings.

Eastern struggled to get the bats going, scoring three runs on just five hits and one error.

Two of those runs came in the second inning on a Jake Ferguson double that plated Pierce Bauerle and Tyler Castro, who had both reached on walks.

After scoreless third and fourth innings, Western scored their one and only earned run with a Brayden Corn lead-off homer in the fifth.

EIU punched right back in the sixth with a Tyler Castro RBI base hit that scored Brett Stanley, who had singled and stolen second to put himself in scoring position.

The Panthers protected the lead through the seventh inning, but with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, a throwing error extended the inning while also allowing a run to score.

With runners now on second and third, a Cole Jones single pushed the Catamounts in front, and after a walk put Jones in scoring position, an Elijah Smith base hit put WCU up 5-3.

Jake Ferguson reached base on a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but the final two EIU batters went down on strikes to finish the game.

Game 2 – EIU 2, WCU 9

The offense came early and often for the Catamounts in game two while the Panthers struggled to find consistent production at the plate.

Eastern scored a pair of runs on seven hits and two errors. Chris Worcester led Eastern with three hits including a double, while Ethan Rossi went 2-4 with a home run.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the game's opening run was walked home before a double play got EIU out the inning.

However, the Panthers were unable to escape the second inning with as little damage, as the Catamounts scored five runs in the frame.

The first run was scored on an RBI double off the bat Jaylen Jones before a throwing error on a bunt-single allowed two more to cross home plate.

WCU had a man on first with two outs following a fly ball, but three consecutive two-out singles plated a couple more runs to put EIU in a 6-0 hole before Christian Carew entered the game to get the final out of the inning.

Carew had a solid outing in relief, allowing just one run on three hits with a strikeout through 3.1 innings pitched.

After reaching on a two-out error and stealing second, Chris Worcester scored EIU's first run of the game on a Tyler Castro RBI single in the top of the third.

Ethan Rossi recorded his second home run of the season with a solo shot in the seventh, but the Panthers were unable to cut into the deficit with the Catamounts picking up a couple more insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning.

The Panthers had men on second and third in the ninth, but were unable to bring either runner home.

The date and time for the series finale is still to be determined dependent on weather.