PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team (6-11, 0-0 OVC) fell 9-6 on Tuesday afternoon in their first of two midweek games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-19, 0-3 SWAC).

The EIU order combined for eight hits on the day with five of their six runs being earned. The offense was led by Chris Worcester, who went 2-5 with a pair of RBIs.

Ethan Rossi also posted a multi-hit outing, going 2-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Five different Eastern pitchers saw action, with Anthony Solis retiring the first six Pine Bluff batters in a brief two-inning start before giving way to the bullpen.

Bryce Riggs allowed no earned runs with three strikeouts through 2.2 innings of relief. The sophomore is still yet to allow an earned run this season.

After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Panthers struck first with an Eli Hill RBI double that plated Cade Zalewski, who had reached on a two-bagger of his own in the previous at-bat.

After reaching on an error in the bottom of the frame, Gavin Terry scored on a Carlos Rodriguez-Valez triple to tie the game before the Lions took the lead on a Vinny Saumell sacrifice fly.

Pine Bluff tacked on another unearned run in the fifth when Collin McLemore scored on an error to make the score 3-1.

However, the Panthers responded with a four spot in the sixth to surge back ahead. Ethan Rossi got the big inning started with lead-off single before Cade Zalewski was hit by a pitch to quickly put two aboard.

In the next at-bat, a throwing error by the third baseman on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed Eli Hill to reach base and advance to second while Rossi came around the score.
With runners on second and third, Zalewski beat out a throw to the plate on a Jake Ferguson bunt to tie the game, and later in the inning, Chris Worcester doubled to drive in Hill and Ferguson.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lions roared back with three runs on a Jesus Riera two RBI single and McLemore RBI base hit to recapture the lead.

Pine Bluff extended the lead in the seventh with a Darrius Brown sacrifice fly before Terry padded the lead in the eighth with a two RBI single.

The Panthers tried to put a two-out rally together in the ninth as a single from Rossi scored Tyler Castro before a Sam Wiese base hit brought the tying run to the plate, but it was ultimately too little, too late as a groundout left both runners stranded.

EIU will look to bounce back on Wednesday with another 2 p.m. battle with UAPB. The Panthers will then return home this weekend to open conference play against Lindenwood.