Stew-Stras' Widdersheim Takes Loss in EIU Baseball Opener

The Panther baseball team dropped its season opener, 4-3, against Texas Southern on Friday afternoon at Braddy Field. EIU will have a rematch with the Tigers at noon on Saturday before facing tournament host Jackson State at 6 p.m.

Tied at two in the top of the eighth inning, newcomer Demetre Taylor hit a solo home run to put the Panthers up, 3-2. Texas Southern responded in the bottom of the frame when De’Mario Thibodeaux crossed home plate on a Panther throwing error. Thibodeaux eventually hit the game-winning RBI single for the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth, giving Texas Southern the opening-day victory.

“It was a tough loss,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “I thought the first six or seven innings we played really well. Matt Borens was excellent today and did a great job for us in his first outing of the season.”

Borens, in his fourth career start, went 5.1 innings with two strikeouts and one walk. The sophomore pitcher allowed eight hits and only two runs (one earned). Newcomer and Stewardson-Strasburg High School graduate Jaden Widdersheim (0-1) took the loss in his first appearance with the Panthers, allowing one run and three hits in one inning of work.

The Tigers posted four more hits (11-7) than EIU and had one fewer error (2-1). Texas Southern left 13 runners on base while the Panthers stranded five base runners.

Sophomore Brant Valach went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI for the Panthers. Senior Nick Priessman also added a run and an RBI.