Central Arkansas Downs EIU in Baseball

CONWAY, Ark. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at Central Arkansas on Saturday, losing by scores of 9-1 and 4-3. The series between UCA and EIU will wrap up tomorrow afternoon, with game four set to start at 1 p.m. With the losses, EIU drops to 0-7 on the season as UCA improves to 4-3.

Game One: Central Arkansas 9, Eastern Illinois 1

Three runs by the Central Arkansas in the first two innings helped propel the Bears to a 9-1 decision in the first game of the double header on Saturday.

Tyler Langley reached base on a single to start the bottom of the first inning for the home team. After stealing second base, he quickly moved up to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Brandon Montalvo brought Langley home on a ground out to put UCA ahead 1-0 after the first.

Three-straight singles provided the offense for the Bears in the second inning, and with the help of a couple defensive miscues by EIU brought the score to 3-0 in favor of UCA.

Back-to-back singles by Josh Turnock and Mitch Gasbarro put runners at first and second to start the fifth inning for EIU, but UCA starting pitcher Cody Davenport (1-0) was able to work out of the jam unharmed.

After limiting the UCA offense in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, EIU starter Michael McCormick (0-2) ran into trouble in the sixth inning. Three-straight Bears reached base to open the inning and chase the Panthers starter. The UCA offense continued as the Bears would put up five runs in the inning to take a 8-0 lead.

Dane Toppel led off the seventh inning for EIU with a single. He then moved up to third following a Cale Hennemann single to center. Turnock brought Toppel into score with an RBI groundout to make the score 8-1.

UCA added another run in the bottom of the seventh to increase their lead to 9-1 and shut down the EIU offense the final two innings.

Cole Berry came in and pitched a scoreless eighth inning for EIU. EIU ended game one with five hits in the first game.

Game Two: Central Arkansas 4, Eastern Illinois 3

EIU scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but their lead was quickly erased as Central Arkansas answered with four runs in the bottom of the from that proved to be just enough for the one-run victory in the night cap.

The Toppel-Hennemann connection worked once again to start the game for the Panthers as Hennemann drove in Toppel with a single to left. Matt Dunavant brought Hennemann into score with a RBI double to left center. Tyler Tesmond singled to move Dunavant up to third. Jackson Mueller drove in the Panthers final run in the inning with a single through the left side to put EIU ahead 3-0 early.

Tice doubled to right center and Montalvo was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for UCA in the first inning. Hunter Strong singled to drive in Tice. Justin McCarty put UCA ahead, 4-3, with his three-run blast.

Andy Fisher came on to relieve EIU starter Jake Johansmeier (0-1) in the second inning and controlled the UCA offense.
The Panthers threatened in the fifth inning as Hennemann singled to lead off the inning and found his way on third base following a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. UCA starter Riley Echols (1-0) was able to work out of the jam without surrendering a run.

Derek Beirer and Jacob Murrary finished the final three innings on the mound for UCA, only surrendering two hits, as the home team completed the sweep on the day with a 4-3 victory in game two.

Fisher went 6.2 innings strong in relief for EIU, only surrendering two hits, while striking out 10 UCA batters.
The Panthers pounded out 10 hits in the second game with Hennemann 3-for-4 leading EIU. Joseph Duncan and Turnock ended the game 2-for-4.

The Eastern Illinois baseball team outhit Central Arkansas 11-7 in the final game of the four-game series, but a three-run sixth inning gave the Bears just enough run support to hold off a Panther comeback as the Panthers dropped the game 6-5.  EIU falls to 0-8 on the season as Central Arkansas improved to 5-3. EIU returns to Coaches Stadium for their 2016 home opener against Indiana State on Tuesday (March 1).

Dane Toppel led off the game getting hit by a pitch, and stole second to put EIU in scoring position early. Toppel found his way to third following a ground out, and came in to score on an RBI groundout by Cale Hennemann to put EIU ahead 1-0.

Central Arkansas responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning following a two RBI triple by the Bears Hunter Strong to take a 2-1 lead after one inning complete.

Central Arkansas added another run to their total in the bottom of the third inning with a two-out rally.  A single and a walk put runners at first and second for the home team. Justin McCarty singled up the middle to bring the score to 3-1 in favor of UCA.

Josh Turnock singled and advanced to second after a single by Toppel. EIU escaped a double play as Mitch Gasbarro legged out a fielder’s choice to reach first safely as Toppel moved up to second base. Hennemann singled to bring in Toppel, and Matt Dunavant followed with a RBI single of his own to bring in Gasbarro to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning.

Two extra base hits by UCA put the Bears up by a score of 5-3 and chased EIU starter Brendon Allen (0-1). The Bears tacked on another run with a Butch Rea sacrifice fly to put UCA ahead 6-3 after six innings played.

The Panthers answered with a run of their own in the top of the seventh as Toppel started the inning with a single. Toppel moved up to second on a groundout, and Hennemann provided another hit with a runner in scoring position with his RBI single, his third RBI of the game to put bring EIU within two runs at 6-4.
Jimmy Govern pulled EIU within a single run with a solo shot in the eighth, his first home run of his EIU career.

Derek Beier (1-0) allowed just one run in 2.1 innings of relief to pick up the win for UCA. Jacob Murray closed the game for UCA for his third save of the season and gave the Bears a 6-5 win in the final game of the series.

EIU outhit UCA in the final game 11-7 with Hennemann leading the way for EIU going 2-for-5 with three RBI. Toppel (2-for-3) and Dunavant (2-for-5) were the other two Panthers with multiple hits.

Jake Haberer pitched three innings of scoreless relief for EIU.