CHARLESTON, Ill. – Host Eastern Illinois pounded out 22 hits as the Panthers (19-5) captured a 16-5 victory over visiting Chicago State (2-24) Tuesday afternoon at EIU's Coaches Stadium to earn a sweep of the season series.
The visitors captured a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior Jeremy Perez (Chicago, IL/Univ. of Dubuque) (Chicago, Ill.) lined an RBI single off EIU starting pitcher Mike Martin to left center to score junior Kevin Hussey (Pickering, ON/Olney Central College) (Pickering, Ont.) from second base after reaching base via a two-out walk. EIU even the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the inning after Zach Borenstein drove home senior Brett Nommensen, who hit a leadoff single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball.
Five runs crossed the plate in the second inning as the home team increased its leading margin to 6-1 behind RBI doubles from Nommensen, Borenstein, and freshman Gerik Wallsten along with a run-scoring triple by senior Jordan Tokarz.
CSU scored another run in the top of the third to slice its deficit to 6-2 when Perez brought home Hussey from third with an RBI groundout. Hussey singled up the middle and advanced to third on a single from senior Patrick Hernandez (Romeoville, IL/Triton CC) (Romeoville, Ill.) before scoring on the next play. The Panthers used RBI singles from junior Kurt Restko and Nommensen in the bottom half of the third to hike their leading margin to 8-2 and added three more runs in the fourth inning to increase its advantage to 11-2.
Restko brought home another run in the fifth inning as he hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center field that scored junior Richie Derbak, who drilled a leadoff single, from third to increase EIU's lead to 12-2.
The Cougars responded with three runs in the top of the seventh as senior Matt Haug (Plymouth, IN/Ancilla CC) (Plymouth, Ind.) lined a two-run single to score Perez and freshman Kasey Lewandowski (Milwaukee, WI/Rufus King HS) (Milwaukee, Wis.) to close within 12-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Restko hit a two-RBI double down the left field line which helped the home team hike its lead to 14-5. EIU closed the scoring in the eighth inning with a pair of runs for the final margin.
EIU was led on the offensive end by sophomore Cam Strang, who went 5-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI. Restko hit 4-for-5 with two doubles, five RBI and scored three times. Redshirt freshman Mike Martin (3-0) earned the win for the Panthers after allowing two runs on six hits in four innings thrown, but recorded three strikeouts and three walks.
Hernandez led Chicago State with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Perez and Haug added two hits apiece. Freshman Jonathan Carpen (Whiting, IN/Clark) (Whiting, Ind.) took the loss and fell to 0-2 on the year after giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on 14 hits in three and two-thirds innings of work.
The Cougars return to Chicago for a four-game home series against NCAA Division II newcomer Urbana (Ohio) this weekend at Gwendolyn Brooks Field beginning Friday evening with a start time of 6 p.m.
~CSU~
