EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team (26-19, 14-7 OVC) dropped their series finale at SIUE (24-25, 16-8 OVC) by a score of 6-2 on Sunday afternoon. Eastern matched SIUE with eight hits, but left 11 runners on base compared to just four left on for the Cougars.

Three Panthers posted multi-hit outings, including Brett Stanley (2-4) and Ethan Rossi (2-3), who both recorded a double and one RBI each. Tyler Castro also posted multiple hits with a pair of base knocks.

Anthony Solis suffered the loss for EIU after allowing six runs on seven hits with six strikeouts through six innings. Eli Cartwright finished the game on the mound for Easter, surrendering just one hit with a pair of strikeouts through two innings.

SIUE took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the first, with Mack Mitchell scoring on a Chase Bloomer RBI single after getting hit by a pitch and moving into scoring position on a Anthony Grier sacrifice bunt.

The Panthers immediately responded in the second on an Ethan Rossi RBI double that plated Brett Stanley, who had led off the frame with a double of his own.

After Anthony Solis retired the SIUE side in order in the bottom of the second, Quade Peters led off the next inning with a base hit before moving to second on a Tyler Castro bunt and stealing third. With runners now on the corners, Brett Stanley delivered an RBI single to put EIU in front.

In the bottom of the third, a two-out single and walk put a pair on for SIUE, and after both runners moved into scoring position on a double steal, Ryan Niedzwiedz doubled to center field to push the Cougars back in front.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, SIUE brought three runs across in the fifth to create some separation. Lane Crowden got the inning started with a leadoff double before stealing third, which set up Mack Mitchell to drive in the frame's first run with a base hit up the middle.

After a Grier sacrifice bunt and Bloomer single put runners on the corners, Niedzwiedz recorded another RBI on a sacrifice fly before a Joshua Heyder RBI single scored Bloomer, who had stolen second to reach scoring position.

Neither side was able to produce much offense through the next three innings, combining for just two hits and zero runs to keep the score at 6-2 heading into the ninth.

Eastern made things interesting in their final at-bat, with Colin Horneman reaching on a leadoff walk before a two-out walk by Tyler Castro followed by a Mike O'Conor single loaded the bases. However, a pop out ended the scoring threat and secured the win for SIUE.

Next up for the Panthers is a midweek contest against in-state rival Illinois State in Bloomington on Tuesday at 5 p.m. EIU will then host Western Illinois next weekend to wrap up the regular season. Game one is set for Thursday, May 15th at 3 p.m.