EIU Downs Illinois College, SIUE Edges Bradley

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Panther baseball team defeated Illinois College, 8-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. EIU improves to 10-22 on the year.

EIU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after two innings of play before the Blueboys (13-9) got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Illinois College cut its deficit to four (6-2), scoring two runs on three hits.

The Panthers added two runs on three hits in the sixth inning to push their lead to six (8-2). Alex Cain drove in the first run with a double down the right-field line before he crossed home plate later in the inning on a John Devito ground out for the final run.

The Blueboys had one more hit (8-7) than EIU and left one more runner on base (10-9). EIU had one more error (2-1) in the contest.

Cain led the Panther offense as the freshman outfielder went 2-for-4 with four RBI, a run and a double. Trey Russell and Marshawn Taylor both scored two runs in the win.

North Clay graduate Andrew Grahn (1-0) earned his first career win, striking out five batters while allowing four hits and two runs in five innings of work. All told, the Panthers used five pitchers who combined to throw 11 strikeouts and issue two walks. Stewardson-Strasburg graduate Jaden Widdersheim pitched one inning allowing one hit and striking out one.

“It was good to see (Andrew) Grahn pitch well today,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “It was also good to see different guys in the lineup play well too.”

Clayton Carr (0-1) took the loss for Illinois College, surrendering two runs and one hit in one inning of work. The Blueboys used eight pitchers who combined to record two strikeouts and six walks.

Austin Peck led the Blueboys offense as he went 2-for-3 at the plate. Dalton Kerans went 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI.

The Panthers return to action in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with Tennessee Tech on April 11-13. Game one is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday.

SIUE 6, Bradley 5

EDWARDSVILE, Ill. – A four-run fifth inning vaulted SIUE baseball to a 6-5 win over Bradley in nonconference baseball action at Simmons Baseball Complex.

The win snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Cougars, who improved to 11-20 overall. Bradley fell to 17-11.

"We beat a good team tonight. We should feel good about it," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said.

The Cougars picked up two base hits and took advantage of four hit batters and a walk in the fifth inning. Alec Saikal drove home two with a single. Devin Caldwell added an RBI single in the inning and Keaton Wright drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

"When someone opens the door for you, kick it open," Stoecklin said. "They hit some batters and put guys on base and we punished them with the big inning.

Effingham graduate Chase Green had a single and scored two runs for SIUE.