Illinois Holds On To Beat EIU

After taking an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, the Eastern Illinois offense went cold. Illinois took advantage of the struggling Panthers’ offense and stole the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Illinois led by as many as seven runs, but the EIU offense chipped away and pulled to within two runs late, but Illinois held on for the 9-7 win on Tuesday night. The Panthers return to Coaches Stadium this weekend for a three-game OVC series against Tennessee Tech.
Eastern Illinois falls to 5-23 overall on the season, with Illinois improving to 12-14.

The Panthers found themselves ahead early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Joseph Duncan singled to left and stole second to move into scoring position. Demetre Taylor blooped a single into left field that brought home Duncan. The scoring continued for EIU, as Taylor swiped second. Cale Hennemann singled up the middle to score Taylor just ahead of the play at the plate and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Illinois answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame against EIU starter Jake Johansmeier. After a double and a groundout, Illinois had a runner at third with just one out in the inning. Dan Rowbottom knocked an RBI single down the right field line, and was trying to stretch the hit into a double, but a strong throw by Frankie Perrone from the right field corner beat Rowbottom before he could reach the bag.  

Johansmeier looked as he would spoil a lead-off single from Illinois in the bottom of the third, but the home team did not waste their chance with a runner in scoring position. Jason Goldstein hit a line drive that just cleared the fence in left field to give Illinois a 3-2 lead.

The Illini added another run to their total in the bottom of the fourth inning. With a runner on second, Anthony Drago hit a grounder up the middle that scored a run, but Drago was thrown out by Jason Scholl at second base trying to advance on the throw to the plate.

Illinois began to pull away in the bottom of the fifth inning against EIU relievers. The Illinois bats got hot in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the home team opened the frame with seven-straight hits that accounted for five runs and gave the home team a 9-2 lead.
After being held scoreless for five-straight innings, the Panthers got back in rhythm offensively in the top of the seventh inning. A two-out rally was started by a walk to Hennemann. Perrone singled to put runners at first and second. Mitch Gasbarro smoked a grounder down to third base tucked just inside the line for a two-run double. Matt Dunavant came on as a pinch hitter and made the most of his opportunity as he singled through the left side of the infield to score Gasbarro.

Nick Maton started the eighth inning with a single, but was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice that allowed Scholl to reach base. Taylor roped a ball into the right center field gap for a three-bagger as Scholl scored on the play. Hennemann drove in Taylor on the next play via a sacrifice fly to center and cut the Illinois lead to 9-7.

Johansmeier (2-3) took the loss on the mound for the Panthers giving up four runs over four innings. Chase Thurston, Andy Fisher, and Matt Wivinis each went a scoreless inning on the mound for EIU.

Hunter Morris led the way offensively going 3-5, while Maton, Taylor, and Gasbarro totaled two hits each.