The Panthers' struggles on the mound were too much to overcome in the series finale, losing to the Eagles 8-5. With the loss, EIU falls to 15-10 (5-1 OVC), while Morehead State improves to 12-16 (1-5 OVC).
EIU uses six pitchers in today's contest, with Anthony Solis throwing 3.1 innings as the starter. Solis collected two strikeouts but allowed four runs on six hits. Jarret Kinder, Nate Marshall, and Dalton Boruff each gave up an earned run in relief. Marshall was tagged with the loss, throwing 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on one hit, and giving up three walks.
For the Eagles, Connor Davis threw 5.2 innings as a starter, throwing 106 pitches. The starter allowed five runs, but only two of them were earned. Davis allowed eight hits and four walks.
Eastern Illinois' offense jumped out of the gate, fueled by Chris Worcester's left center home run in the 1st inning. Worcester finished the game going 2-4 with two RBIs and the solo home run. The Panthers scored five runs on eight hits through the first half of the game but were shut out the rest of the way.
EIU did not record a single hit or run after the 5th inning, allowing the Eagles to take control in the late stages of the game.
Before the cold bats, both teams were in a tug-of-war, with the Eagles taking the lead in the 3rd inning, scoring two runs.
Trailing 4-2, the Panthers used the rest of their offensive gas tank in the 4th inning, scoring three runs. Owen Anderson scored on a balk call, followed by Brett Staley extending his hitting to 22 with an RBI base hit, scoring Tyler Castro.
Worcester gave the Panthers the lead once again with an RBI single of his own, scoring Stanley. However, the Eagles quickly responded with a groundout RBI by Nick Griffith.
After the 5th inning, Morehead State controlled the momentum the rest of the way, earning their first conference win of the season.
Nate Marshall surrendered two runs in the eighth inning, followed by an insurance run in the final inning of the game to give the Eagles an 8-5 win.
By The Numbers:
EIU: 5 Runs, 8 Hits, 2 Errors
Morehead State: 8 Runs, 11 Hits, 3 Errors
Tyler Castro: 2-5
Chris Worcester: 2-4 with 2 RBIs, HR
Series Leaders:
Mike O'Conor: .455 AVG,6 RBIs, 5 Hits, 2 HR, 2B, 1.091 SLG%
Chris Worcester: .400 AVG, 6 Hits, 6 RBIs, 3 HR, 1.000 SLG%
Joey Hagen: .333 AVG, 5 Hits, 5 RBIs, HR, .533 SLG%
Tyler Castro: .357 AVG, 5 Hits
Bryce Riggs: 1-0, 2.16 ERA, 8.1 innings, 2 Hits, 2 ER, 8 Strikeouts
Up Next: Panthers will travel to Tennessee Tech next Thursday, April 2nd, to continue OVC action.
