Errors costly for Eastern Baseball Squad

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team committed four errors in the first inning of play at Evansville Tuesday night, falling 7-5 at Braun Stadium. The Panthers return to action on March 15-17 as they play host to Austin Peay.

The Purple Aces (5-9) took an early 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits and four errors.

“We dug ourselves a big hole in the first inning and it was too much to overcome,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “We swung the bats better tonight and I was proud how the team scored three runs after being down 4-0 because of the four errors.”

The Panthers (3-12) responded in the top of the next inning, scoring three runs on four hits to cut their deficit to one (4-3). Evansville added two more runs in the third inning to take a 6-3 lead before Tyler Schweigert hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to make the score 6-4.

Demetre Taylor scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning to get the Panthers within one (6-5), but the Purple Aces added an insurance run in the seventh inning on a Jonathan Ramon sacrifice fly, giving Evansville the 7-5 lead.

Schweigert led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs. John Devito added two RBI and a hit while Taylor also scored two runs.

Evansville had one more hit (10-9) than EIU and committed two less errors (4-2). The Purple Aces also left three more runners on base (9-6) in the contest.

Jake Johansmeier (0-1) took the loss for EIU, surrendering two hits and four runs (zero earned) with one strikeout in one inning of action. Teutopolis graduate Luke Bushur pitched two innings for the Panthers allowing three hits, two runs, striking out one and not giving up a walk.

Sam Johns (1-1) earned the win for Evansville, allowing nine hits and five runs with five strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work. Jason Hockemeyer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs to lead the Evansville offense.