Eastern Defeats SIUE to Close Season

The Eastern Illinois baseball team honored six seniors – Jason Euler, Mitch Gasbarro, Jake Johansmeier, Jason Scholl, Demetre Taylor, and Matt Wivinis – on “Senior Day” before facing Southern Illinois Edwardsville. The Panthers capped off the celebration by completing their series sweep against the Cougars, winning 11-6 in the series finale in their final game of the 2016 season.

Eastern Illinois finished the season 15-39 overall and 8-22 in the OVC in Head Coach Jason Anderson’s first season. SIUE ended the season 9-40 overall and 6-24 in the OVC.

Logan Andersen was the first batter of the game and gave SIUE a 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. The lead did not last long however as Taylor tied the score at 1-1 for EIU with an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning.

A lead-off double by Nick Maton and a bunt single by Joseph Duncan put Eastern Illinois in prime position for a big inning in the bottom of the third. The Panthers recorded three-straight RBI hits by Cale Hennemann, Gasbarro, and Taylor gave EIU a 4-1 advantage.

The Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. After a Matt Dunavant double to start the inning, Maton tripled down the right field line to score Dunavant easily. Duncan kept with the extra-base hit trend and doubled down the left field line and plated Maton. Duncan moved up on a passed ball and came around the final 90 feet on an RBI groundout by Hennemann to put the score at 7-1.

After SIUE cut into the Panthers’ lead with a solo home run by Skyler Gessinger in the top of the sixth, Eastern Illinois responded with a pair of run in the bottom half of the frame. Back-to-back doubles by Duncan and Hennemann produced the first run for the Panthers. Later in the inning, Taylor gave EIU their second run on an RBI groundout.

Things would get rather interesting in the top of the seventh inning as SIUE put up four runs in the frame, including a two-run home run by Andersen, his second home run of the game, and cut the Eastern Illinois lead to 9-6.

Frankie Perrone gave Eastern Illinois a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run over the centerfield wall as the score moved to 11-6 heading into the final inning.

Jake Haberer entered the game on the mound for EIU in the top of the ninth and worked a perfect 1-2-3 inning to give Eastern Illinois an 11-6 win.

Chase Thurston picked up the win on the mound in four innings of relief. Euler tossed 1.2 innings perfect innings of relief and recorded three strikeouts.

The Panthers hit eight doubles in the game, and marked the first time the team has hit seven or more doubles in a game since they recorded seven against Chicago State on April 1, 2009.

Duncan finished the day 3-for-4 to lead the Panthers. Hennemann, Gasbarro, Taylor, and Maton collected two hits each.