EIU Downs Saint Louis, SIUE Falls to Maryville

CHARLESTON, Ill. –- Demetre Taylor went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI and two runs to lift the Panther baseball team over Saint Louis, 9-7, Wednesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. EIU improves to 7-17 on the year.

Trailing 7-6 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Taylor delivered a two-RBI double down the left-field line to give the Panthers a one-run lead. Jason Scholl scored Taylor on the next play with an RBI single to right field for the final insurance run.

“Demetre (Taylor) had a big hit today and he has become that guy for us lately,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “The bullpen guys also pitched well for us today and put some zeros on the board. I wasn’t excited with the start we had today, but we have been coming back and scoring runs late in games.”

After a leadoff hit in the top of the ninth inning for Saint Louis, Troy Barton struck out Danny Brennan before getting Drew Curtis to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game. Barton earned his third save of the season

Teutopolis High School graduate Luke Bushur pitched two innings allowing one hit and one walk for the Panthers.

The Panthers return to action in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at home on March 28-30 against Jacksonville State.

Maryville 7, SIUE 6

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -– Maryville scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning Wednesday and held on for a 7-6 win over SIUE in nonconference action at Simmons Baseball Complex.

Maryville (8-10) took advantage of seven walks and two hit batters by Cougar pitchers.

"Our problem tonight was our terrible pitching," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "It's guys being afraid to compete. That's the problem. It's being afraid to stick your nose in there that's the problem with some guys on this pitching staff."

Brett Thomas (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing a run on two hits in 1/3 of an inning of relief. Mike Miller started the game for SIUE and allowed two runs on three hits, while walking two in 2 1/3 innings. Zach Malach allowed three runs, two earned, while striking out four and walking two in 4 1/3 innings in relief. Caleb Wilkerson allowed a run in relief, while walking the only two batters he faced. Jarrett Bednar finished the night with two scoreless innings in relief. He did not allow a hit, struck out two, and walked one.

Chase Green (Effingham) had two singles, an RBI and scored a run for SIU. 

SIUE returns to Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend when it plays host to Tennessee Tech at Simmons Baseball Complex. First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.