Vanderbilt Hand EIU Baseball Loss

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team played the number three team in the nation close in the first seven innings, but five runs by Vanderbilt in the bottom of the eighth helped seal the 9-1 victory for the Commodores. EIU falls to 0-4 on the season as Vanderbilt improves to 4-0.

Two walks in the top of the second inning gave EIU their first threat of the game as Jason Scholl led off the inning with a free pass and moved up to second with a Hunter Morris walk. The Panthers were unable to cash in on their opportunity as the two were left stranded.

A two-out rally for VU in the bottom of the second inning was started with a walk by Will Toffey. The Commodores then loaded the bases following a Karl Ellison and Ethan Paul getting hit by a pitch. Tyler Campbell brought home the first run of the game with a five pitch walk to make the score 1-0 in favor of the home team.

The Panther pitching staff held VU scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings following the lone run given up by starter Ben Hughes (0-1) in his three innings of work. Jake Haberer threw a scoreless fourth inning and Jake Johnansmeier a scoreless fifth.
Back-to-back singles by VU started the sixth inning. Ellison moved up to third base following a single by Penn Murfee. The Commodores executed some small ball with a suicide squeeze brought Ellison into score to put the score at 2-0.

Scholl singled through the hole between first and second to break up Vanderbilt starting pitcher Patrick Raby’s (1-0) no-hit bid. Scholl stole second, but was left stranded.

A double and a triple led off the bottom of the seventh inning for VU as Jeren Kenndall scored on the Bryan Reynolds three-bagger. Reynolds then touched home following a sac fly to mark the score 4-0.

Six-straight batters reached base to begin the eighth inning for Vanderbilt as they would score five runs in the inning to pull away 9-0.
The Panthers would not go away quietly in the ninth. Dane Toppel led off the inning with a double to left center and moved up to third base on a pass ball. He would come around to score following a Josh Turnock single to put EIU on the board 9-1. Matt Dunavant walked to put runners at first and second, but the two would be left there to end the game.

The Panthers ended the game with three hits, including the double by Toppel. VU ended the game with 11 hits and were led by Reynolds (3-for-5).

The Panthers will travel this weekend (Feb. 26-28) for a four-game series at Central Arkansas.