EIU Suffers Two Baseball Losses

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team suffered two heartbreaking losses on Saturday to OVC opponent Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles stole the first game 5-3 scoring three runs in the eighth inning and the second game 8-6 with four runs in the top of the ninth to complete the series sweep. The Panthers will look to bounce back with a midweek contest at Southern Illinois on Tuesday.

Eastern Illinois falls to 1-11 in OVC games and 5-26 overall, while Tennessee Tech improves their record to 9-6 in conference games and 18-12 on the season.

Game 1: Tennessee Tech 5, Eastern Illinois 3

The first game of the twin bill between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech started out as a pitcher’s duel with just three runs scored between the teams in the first six innings. After the Panthers went to their bullpen, the Tennessee Tech offense came out swinging with three runs in the top of the eighth inning and took the first game 5-3.

EIU took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Joseph Duncan legged out an infield single to lead-off the inning. After stealing second, Duncan moved up to third with some situational hitting by Jason Scholl grounding out to the Golden Eagles’ first baseman. A passed ball allowed Duncan to come home and score the first run of the game.

Tennessee Tech responded with a run of their own to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. David Garza doubled to left with one out in the inning. A wild pitch moved Garza up to third, but it did not matter as Tyler Brazelton doubled to the center field wall.

The Panthers regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Dane Toppel and Duncan singled to put runners on the corners for EIU. Nick Maton roped a double down the left field line to bring home Toppel and give EIU a 2-1 advantage.

Eastern Illinois starting pitcher Matt Wivinis was in complete control on the mound shutting the Golden Eagles down in order in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Kevin Strohschein tripled into the right center gap to start the inning for TTU. Garza brought in Strohschein on the next play with a sacrifice fly to center and tied the score at 2-2.

Once again, the Panthers battled to regain the lead in the bottom half on the seventh inning. Frankie Perrone started the inning by reaching on an error by the TTU third baseman. A Toppel double put runners on second and third for EIU. Matt Dunavant came on as a pinch hitter and produced in a big way. Dunavant grounded out to short, but Perrone was able to score on the play and give EIU a 3-2 lead.

Three of the first four batters for Tennessee Tech singled to start the top of the eighth inning and load the bases for the Golden Eagles. Garza drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to left. Connor Goodspeed gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game with a two-run single.

The Panthers were unable to get anything going in the eighth or ninth inning and fell in the first game 5-3.
Andy Fisher (0-3) took the loss for the Panthers allowing two runs in two innings of relief.

Toppel and Duncan both finished the first game 3-for-4 at the plate with Maton going 2-for-4 being the only other Panther hitter to record multiple hits.

Game 2: Tennessee Tech 8, Eastern Illinois 6

Much like the first game, Tennessee Tech was able to score in a big way late and steal a game away from Eastern Illinois. The Golden Eagles scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning, and completed the series sweep by winning 8-6.

The Panthers once again saw themselves on the scoreboard first as Jason Scholl hit a no-doubter home run that sailed over right field fence to lead-off the bottom of the third inning and give EIU a 1-0 lead.

After keeping the Tennessee Tech offense scoreless through the first four innings, the Golden Eagles got to the EIU starter Brendon Allen in the fifth. With the bases loaded and just one out in the frame, the Golden Eagles were in prime position for a big inning. Chris Brown doubled down the right field line that drove in two runs. Later in the inning, Strohschein singled through the left side of the Panthers’ defense and put TTU ahead 3-1.

Tennessee Tech extended their lead in the top of the seventh as three-straight singles loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Josh Pankratz rolled a ground ball to third base, but the Panthers were unable to turn the double play and a TTU run to score moving their lead to 4-1.

The Panthers rallied back to tie the game in the bottom half of the seventh. After back-to-back singles by Perrone and Mitch Gasbarro, Scholl walked to load the bases. Dunavant once again was called upon to produce as a pinch hitter for the Panthers. Dunavant took one for the team as he was hit by a pitch and scored Perrone on the play. Toppel was the next batter up for EIU and appeared to have been hit by a pitch as well. The home plate umpire ruled Toppel to stay at the plate and continue his at-bat. Toppel came through for the Panthers in an even bigger way by plating two runs through the left side and tie the score at 4-4.

With the bases loaded, two outs in the ninth inning, and down to their last strike in a tie game, TTU’s Brazelton hit a clutch grand slam for the Golden Eagles and gave them an 8-4 advantage.

Despite the big blast in the top of the inning, the Panthers would not go away quietly in the bottom half of the ninth. Scholl started the inning by reaching on an error and moved up to second on a Jimmy Govern single. The two advanced another 90 feet on a wild pitch. Duncan grounded out to short to bring home a run and Maton scored another with an RBI single, but the Panthers would get no closer and dropped the series finale 8-6.

Jake Haberer (1-1) took a tough loss for the Panthers giving up five runs in 3.2 innings of relief. Ten Panthers finished with one hit in the series finale.