EIU Splits DH With Eastern Kentucky, Wenthe Hits Sixth Homer

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois baseball won its second straight Ohio Valley Conference weekend series as the Panthers split Sunday’s doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky to win two of three. Both teams used big innings in their win on Sunday with the Colonels winning game one 12-4. EIU came back to win the second game, 13-5, behind a complete game by Andy Fisher.

EIU improved to 9-29 overall, 6-15 in the OVC. The Panthers will host Saint Louis for a non-conference game on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Coaches Stadium. EKU is now 15-24 overall, 8-12 in the OVC.

GAME ONE RECAP

EKU broke open the first game with a seven-run sixth inning. The Colonels trailed 4-2 heading into the sixth and began the rally with one out. Blake Sides singled and was followed by a Taylor Blair walk. Kenny Hostrander drove home the first run of the inning with a double down the left field line. Following a walk to Daniel McFarland that loaded the bases, Cole Warrenfeltz laced a two-run double to right center to give the Colonels the lead. Warrenfeltz entered the game in the first inning after lead-off hitter Doug Teegarden was injured trying to beat out a ground out to first. Ben Fisher and Luke Wurzelbacher added two-run doubles to complete the scoring.

Logan Hershenow (3-6) used that big offensive inning to pitch into the ninth and pick up the win. Hershenow allowed four runs with three of them earned. EIU scored single runs in the first three innings but left 11 runners on base during the game. Bobby Wenthe, a Teutopolis graduate, had a bases loaded walk in the first inning to plate a run. In the second inning Cale Hennemann beat out an infield single to score the second EIU run. Demetre Taylor hit a solo home run in the third for the Panthers. EIU’s final run in game one was in the fifth off on a double by Mitch Gasbarro to left.

Kyle Nowlin accounted for EKU’s first two runs of the game with solo home runs in the first and third innings as he finished 3-for-4 in the opener. Manny Alvarez had a three run home run in the seventh for the Colonels final runs of the game. Fisher and Hostrander both went 2-for-5 for EKU in the opener.

Matt Wivinis (1-6) pitched into the sixth and was tagged with the loss. Caleb Howell was 4-for-5 for EIU while Hennemann was 3-for-5 in the opener. Taylor, Joseph Duncan and Adam Casson all added two hits for the Panthers.

GAME TWO RECAP

EIU starter Andy Fisher (1-3) pitched the first complete game of the season for the Panthers as he recorded his first collegiate win. Fisher benefitted from four runs in the second and five runs in the fourth as he went the distance allowing eight hits and five runs.

Alvarez homered for the second time on the day in the top of the first scoring two runs for the Colonels. EKU added a single run in the second inning on an RBI single by Warrenfeltz.

The Panthers answered in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Howell who eventually came around to score on a passed ball. Howell was 2-for-3 in the second game as he had six straight hits between the two games and reached base eight straight times.

Casson tied the game to open the second with a solo home run to right. Howell added an RBI single and Taylor drove home two runs with a single up the middle. Taylor was 2-for-2 with three RBI in the night cap.

EKU closed to within one run in the fourth as the Colonels scored two runs against Fisher. Warrenfeltz had his second RBI of the game going 2-for-3 at the plate. Nowlin drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly. Fisher would not allow a run in the final three innings of the game. Blair and Shea Sullivan were 2-for-3 for EKU in the second game.

EIU broke open the game in the bottom of the fourth with five runs against two Colonels relief pitchers. Taylor drove home the first run with an RBI single to left. Catcher Hunter Morris had the big hit of the inning with a two-run single to right. Morris and Brant Valach both finished 2-for-4 at the plate.

Wenthe capped the Panthers scoring in the fifth with a two-run homer to left center. The homer was his sixth of the season.

Chris Cervantes (0-3) suffered the loss for EKU as he was lifted in the second inning.