CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Sycamore baseball team fell to the Eastern Illinois Panthers 5-4 on Wednesday evening at Coaches Stadium in Charleston, Ill. ISU and EIU experienced an hour and 33 minute weather delay in the top of the second inning, and the game was called due to darkness after the top of the eighth. Indiana State falls to 13-17 on the year, while Eastern Illinois improves to 2-24.
The Sycamores scored in the top of the first inning. Derek Hannahs doubled and came around to score on a Jacob Hayes two-run home run to left center field.
EIU scored one run in their half of the first inning. ISU's starting pitcher walked two and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Another wild pitch led to the third walk, and scored the first Panther run of the game. After the first inning, ISU led 2-1.
ISU added a single run in the top of the third inning. Hayes singled with two outs and stole second. Brian Romero singled through the right side to bring Hayes home and put the Sycamores up 3-1.
The Panthers tied the game up in the bottom of the third inning. Demetre Taylor led off with a single and Bobby Wenthe was walked. After a sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position, Hunter Morris singled to bring home two and tie the game up at 3-3.
Indiana State regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Tony Rosselli led off with a double and came around to score on a Hannahs single to right field. ISU led 4-3 after three and a half innings.
Eastern Illinois was able to tie it up at four in the bottom of the fifth inning. Adam Casson was walked and came around to score on a double down the right field line by Joseph Duncan.
The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Wenthe singled and was pinch ran for by Mitch Gasbarro. Gasbarro moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and an ISU fielding error moved him to third. EIU executed a suicide squeeze to bring home Gasbarro and take the lead at 5-4.
ISU put a runner on in the eighth but couldn't score and the game was called after the top of the inning due to darkness.
On the mound, David Stagg started, throwing to three hitters and walking all three before being replaced by Greg Kuhlman. Kuhlman worked in 2-plus innings, allowing two earned runs, walking three, allowing one hit and striking out one. Michael Eberle pitched an inning in relief, giving up two hits and no runs. Ethan Larrison pitched the last 4.0 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, one earned and walking two.
At the plate, Hayes finished the contest 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored two runs. Romero added a 2-for-4 performance, picking up one RBI. Hannahs went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Sycamores return to action this weekend as they host the Southern Illinois Salukis in a three-game series at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium. The first game is scheduled for Friday night, Apr. 9th at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, make sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.
