EIU Beats Butler in Baseball Action

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team did their damage against Butler in the first four innings, scoring three in the first, and two runs in the second, third, and fourth each. The lead was too much for Butler to handle as the Panthers picked up a 9-3 win on Monday.

Eastern Illinois improves to 12-39 overall, as Butler falls to 14-36 on the season.

The Panthers got things going on offense right from their very first batter of the game. Cale Hennemann knocked a single into left center and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Demetre Taylor drove in Hennemann on an RBI single to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage. The inning continued for Eastern Illinois as Frankie Perrone and Jason Scholl drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Tyler Tesmond. Tesmond flew out to deep center and brought in Taylor on the sacrifice fly. With some heads-up base running, Perrone realized how deep the ball was and moved up to third base on the play. Perrone advancing proved to be key, as a balk by the Butler pitcher allowed Perrone to walk home and give EIU a 3-0 lead after one inning in the books.

Eastern Illinois would keep the bats rolling into the second inning. Mitch Gasbarro plated the first run for EIU with a sacrifice fly, and Taylor would follow that up with a line shot over the wall in right to extend the Panthers’ lead to 5-0.

Butler would cut into the Eastern Illinois lead ever so slightly in the top of the third. A Nick Bartolone double, followed by a Tyler Houston RBI single gave Butler their first run of the game.

Eastern Illinois would get the run back and more in the bottom of the third. Nick Maton drilled a no-doubter home run over the wall in right field with one out in the inning. After Dane Toppel blooped a double down the right field line, Hunter Morris plated Toppel with an RBI single to put the score at 7-1 in favor of Eastern Illinois.

Maton drove in what would end up being Eastern Illinois’ final two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double.
Butler tried to comeback late, scoring a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, but Cole Berry tossed a scoreless ninth and gave the Panthers a 9-3 win.

Ben Hughes picked up his first career win as a Panther, going six inning and allowing just two runs. Alex Cain worked two innings for Eastern Illinois, and allowed just one run.

Maton had a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including two doubles, one home run, and three RBIs. Taylor, Perrone, and Morris all added two hits each.