Illinois State Rallies For Win Over EIU

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois looked like it might have squeezed across its first win of the season in the bottom of the eighth only to see Illinois State rally for six runs in the ninth as ISU won an 18-14 slugfest over EIU on Tuesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. The two teams combined for 44 hits (22 for each team), eight doubles and eight home runs.

EIU fell to 0-21 on the season. The Panthers will return to Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend at Tennessee Tech.  ISU improved to 12-13.

EIU trailed 10-3 following the top of the sixth inning but scored nine runs between the sixth and seventh innings to make it a contest. With the game tied at 12-12 heading into the bottom of the eighth, EIU opened the inning with a single by Dane Sauer. Following a wild pitch, Adam Casson would move Sauer to third with a bunt and John Devito would use a squeeze bunt to score Sauer and give EIU a 13-12 lead.

Illinois State tied the game to open the ninth inning as Joe Kelch hit his second home run of the day as he finished the game 5-for-6 at the plate. Dennis Colon would reach on an infield error which opened the offensive gates for the Redbirds against relief pitcher Casson (0-1) who took the loss despite allowing five unearned runs.

The Redbirds closed the ninth inning allowing EIU to score one run as Jake Sale (2-1) was credited with the win during 1.2 innings of work. Ryan Koziol who was 3-for-5 with four RBI as a hitter, closed out the ninth.

Illinois State scored in the first inning on a double play ball as EIU starter Andrew Grahn, a North Clay High School graduate, worked two innings. EIU answered with two runs in its half of the first was Caleb Howell delivering an RBI double. Howell was 3-for-6 with six RBI on the day.  All three hits were doubles for the senior.

Illinois State scored four runs in the second and three runs in the third. Paul Dejong hit a three-run home run in the second.  Dejong had three home runs on the day driving home six runs. Jared Hendren, Colon and Kelch added home runs in the second and third innings as ISU connected for seven home runs.

Casson hit a solo homer in the fourth for EIU as he was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. After giving up a two-run homer to Dejong in the top of the sixth, EIU began its rally in the bottom half of the frame. Howell had a two-run double and Demetre Taylor added a two-run single for the Panthers four runs in the sixth.

In the seventh EIU took the lead with five runs against the Redbirds bullpen. Howell had a three-run double in the inning while Brant Valach added an RBI double and Taylor an RBI single. The Panthers 3-4-5 hitters in the line-up rive home 11 runs on the afternoon going 8-for-18. Valach had two doubles while Taylor was 3-for-6 with four RBI.

The Redbirds tied the game in the top of the eighth on Dejong’s third blast of the game.