Grahn Takes Loss in EIU Baseball Contest

The Panther baseball team dropped its series opener at Tennessee Tech, 20-5, on Friday night at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. Game two is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

The Panthers (12-19, 3-9 OVC) surrendered a season-high 20 runs in the loss. The Golden Eagles (24-10, 13-3 OVC) scored six runs on five hits in the third inning to break open the scoreless contest and take a 6-0 advantage.

Dane Sauer hit a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle in the top of the next inning to cut the Panthers deficit to four (6-2), but TTU scored 11 unanswered runs over the next three innings to build a 17-2 advantage.

EIU scored three runs over the seventh and eighth innings to make the score 17-5, but TTU added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the final score, 20-5.

Sauer finished the day going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI to pace the Panther offense while Nick Priessman went 2-for-3 with a run.

TTU posted 10 more hits (18-8) than EIU and committed two fewer errors (3-1). EIU stranded six more runners on base (15-9) in the contest.

North Clay graduate Andrew Grahn (0-3) took the loss for EIU, allowing seven hits and six runs with three walks. All told, the Panthers used five pitchers who posted six strikeouts with nine walks.

“(Andrew) Grahn was not as sharp as he has been this season,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “With the large deficit we had, we had to save some of our better arms for the rest of the weekend.”

Brandon Thomasson went 3-for-5 with six RBI and two runs to pace the Golden Eagles at the plate. Zach Stephens also went 2-for-4 with four RBI and three runs.

Tristan Archer (6-2) posted the win for TTU, striking out seven with two walks. The right handed pitcher allowed six hits and two hits in five innings of work.