SIUE, EIU Baseball Teams Compete Over Weekend

STATESBORO, Ga. – Ryan Daniels pitched seven strong innings and SIUE scored six times in the top of the eighth inning en route to a 7-3 win over Ohio, before dropping a 14-5 decision to Georgia Southern Saturday in nonconference baseball. Both games took place at Clements Stadium on the Georgia Southern campus.

Daniels (1-0) earned his first win of the season in his longest start of the year. He allowed a run on eight hits, struck out four, and did not walk a hitter.

"Ryan did an outstanding job for us," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled, competed and got the job done."

Effingham High School graduate Chase Green had two hits, scored one run and drove in a run in the opening game then scored a run in the second contest.

SIUE baseball outhit Georgia Southern 12-10 Sunday, but left 14 men on base in an 8-2 loss to the Eagles to wrap up a nonconference weekend at Clements Stadium.

The Cougars are now 2-8 for the season. Georgia Southern improved to 9-2.

"We didn't do a good job of hitting with runners in scoring position today," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said.

SIUE took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Austin Verschoore accounted for both of the Cougars' runs. Skyler Geissinger singled and Jake Michalak doubled to start the inning. Verschoore picked up a two-out single to left center to drive home both runners and give the Cougars their only lead of the game.

"Austin came up with a big hit," Stoecklin said. "He took a nice at-bat. He stayed within his approach and took it right up the middle."   

Caleb Wilkerson (0-1) started and took the loss. Wilkerson tossed three scoreless innings before getting into trouble in the fourth inning. Wilkerson gave up five hits, including a home run as GSU took the lead 4-2. Zach Malach relieved Wilkerson and tossed three innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit. He struck out two and walked one. Green had five at-bats for SIUE but did not get a hit.

"Zach pitched well. P.J. did too," Stoecklin added. "We pitched well enough to keep ourselves in the game."

SIUE committed four errors Sunday and 11 errors over the three game series.

EIU Drops Two Games

STARKVILLE, Miss.  – Reid Humphreys hit a two-out, bases loaded RBI single to give No. 10 Mississippi State a 4-3 win over the Panther baseball team Saturday afternoon.

“We are hanging with some of the top programs in the country,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “If we can do a better job on some of the little things we will be okay.”

The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jake Vickerson stole third base and crossed home plate on a fielding error by Tyler Schweigert on the play. EIU tied the game at one in the fifth inning on a Frankie Perrone sacrifice fly to center field to score Jacob Reese. Mississippi State regained the lead in the bottom of the frame, 3-1, by scoring two runs on four hits.

In the top of the eighth inning, Perrone hit his first career home run to tie the game again – hitting a two-run shot to left field to make the score, 3-3.

Perrone led the Panther offense as the freshman outfield went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a run. Caleb Howell went 2-for-4 while Reese finished the day with one hit and one run. Stewardson-Strasburg graduate Jaden Widdersheim pitched 0.1 inning without any other stats.

Mississippi State had three more hits (11-8) than EIU and left four more runners on base (9-5). EIU had three errors while the Bulldogs did not have any miscues.

The Panther baseball team dropped two games in the final day of play at the Diamond Classic in Starkville, Miss., on Sunday afternoon. EIU falls to 2-10 on the year.

Michigan State defeated the Panthers, 18-13, in game one before EIU was shut out, 9-0, in game two against No. 10 Mississippi State.

“It was a rough day,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “I play these tough games early in the season to find my team and I like what I see. We need to work on a few areas, but we will be fine.”

Game One: Michigan State 18, EIU 13

EIU scored 13 runs through the first four innings of play against the Spartans (5-5), taking a 13-8 lead into the fifth inning. Michigan State responded by scoring 10 unanswered runs over the next three frames to take an 18-13 advantage. Neither team scored in the final two innings of play.

The Spartans had two more hits (20-18) than EIU and left four fewer runners on base (14-10). Both teams committed two errors in the contest.

Frankie Perrone led the Panther offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate with five RBI and two runs. The freshman outfielder was a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Demetre Taylor went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Jacob Reese went 2-for-5 with three runs.

Garrison Stenger (0-3) took the loss for EIU, allowing seven hits and six runs with two strikeouts in 0.2 innings of play. Christian Slazinik started the game and allowed six hits and seven runs in three innings.

Walter Borkovick (1-0) earned the win for Michigan State, throwing four strikeouts and allowing four hits in 4.2 scoreless innings. Jimmy Pickens went 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBI and four runs to lead the Spartans offense.

Game Two: No. 10 Mississippi State 9, EIU 0

The Panthers held the Bulldogs (10-4) scoreless until the fourth inning when Seth Heck hit a two-out, RBI single to make the score 1-0. Mississippi State made the score 2-0 in the sixth inning before adding seven runs on seven hits and one Panther error to push its lead to nine.

The Bulldogs had two more hits (12-10) than EIU and left one more runner on base (10-9). EIU had two errors in the contest while Mississippi State did not have any miscues.

Caleb Howell went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the EIU offense while Adam Casson and Perrone both went 2-for-4.

Chase Thurston (0-1) took the loss for EIU, allowing six hits and six runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings of play. Troy Barton made the start and surrendered one hit with two strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Widdersheim pitched 1.2 innings allowing three hits, three runs, three walks and striking out two.

Dakota Hudson (1-1) posted the win for the Bulldogs, striking out five batters and allowing seven hits in 5.2 scoreless innings. Heck paced the team at the plate as the junior infielder went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Jake Vickerson also went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI.

Schedule Altered

Due to inclement weather, the Panther baseball team has announced schedule changes for its games slated on March 4-9.

Tuesday’s game slated for 2 p.m. at Indiana State on Tuesday, March 4 has been canceled.

EIU was scheduled to play its Ohio Valley Conference series opener with SIU Edwardsville at Coaches Stadium on March 7-9, but will now play at SIUE. The teams are set to open the series at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Simmons Baseball Complex followed by 1 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday. EIU will still serve as the home team for the series.

The Panthers are 2-10 on the year with eight of their 10 games coming against top-25 teams. SIUE is 2-8 on the year.