Eastern Illinois tallies six runs in the third inning and avoids a UT Martin comeback to earn a series opening victory. EIU improves to 23-14 (11-5 OVC), while the Skyhawks drop to 20-21 (6-10 OVC). Tyler Conklin earned his 24th career win at Eastern Illinois, breaking the program record for most career wins in a Panthers uniform.
EIU surrendered the first run of the game but quickly rebounded for six runs in the third inning.
In the third inning, Tyler Castro got the offense rolling with a single through the right side of the infield. After Brett Stanley walked, Chris Worcester scored the Panthers' first run with an RBI double to left field, scoring Castro.
Moments later, James Love extended his on-base streak to 41 games with a walk to load the bases. Ethan Rossi cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to right field, extending the lead to 4-1.
The bases were cleared once again as Mike O'Conor hit a deep left-field home run to score the fifth and sixth runs for Eastern Illinois.
The Skyhawks charged their way back into the game with a run in the fourth inning and found life in the sixth inning, scoring three runs. UT Martin's TJ Grines hit a two-run homer to left field, causing an EIU mound visit. The Skyhawks capitalized on the Panthers' defensive miscues, scoring from second base on a throwing error by Worcester to cut the EIU lead to one.
However, Eastern Illinois pushed away in the 9th inning with needed insurance runs to complete the game-one victory. Castro opened the inning with another single through the right side of the infield.
Worcester was intentionally walked, which was a mistake because the next play, Love smashed a double to right center, collecting two RBIs by driving in Castro and Worcester.
O'Conor earned his third RBI of the night with a double to left field, scoring Love for the third run in the inning.
UT Martin had the Panthers on the edge of their seats, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, James Geshel held on for his 8th save of the season.
On the mound, Tyler Conklin moved to 7-2 on the season, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. With the win, Conklin broke the program record for the most career wins at Eastern Illinois with 24.
Offensively, three Panthers added a multi-hit game to their season total: O'Conor (9), Castro (10), and Rossi (6).
Rossi, O'Conor, and Love each had a multi-RBI game, with Rossi now at 4, O'Conor at 6, and Love at 9 for the season.
By The Numbers:
EIU: 9 Runs, 9 Hits, 2 Errors
UT Martin: 7 Runs, 11 Hits, 0 Errors
Ethan Rossi: 2-4 with 3 RBIs, 2x 2B
Mike O'Conor: 2-5 with 3 RBIs, HR, 2B
James Love: 1-4 with 2 RBIs
Tyler Castro: 2-2, 2x BB
Tyler Conklin: Program Record for Most Career Wins (24)
Up Next: EIU will face UT Martin in game two of the OVC series tomorrow at 3:00 PM CT.
