Box score

Eastern was ahead 8-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning at Jacksonville State. But the Panthers (14-15, 6-5 Ohio Valley Conference) allowed the Gamecocks to score 14 runs in the next seven innings and lost the game 14-13 Sunday in Jacksonville, Ala.

“We were doing great offensively, getting on base and everything,” Schmitz said. “Then our pitchers just started walking people and allowing hits here and there.”

Junior Mike Manns helped maintain the lead with solid pitching in the first inning and by only giving up one hit in the second.

In the third inning, Jacksonville (20-16, 9-3) scored three runs on Manns, who was replaced by junior Alex Guttosch in the fourth inning after he gave up a number of singles, threw his second wild pitch and gave up another run.

Guttosch finished the fourth inning and started the fifth but was replaced by junior Tyler Brandon. Guttosch gave up a triple, a double, hit a batter and allowed another run to score.

Brandon came in and the Gamecocks scored two more runs, cutting the Panther lead to 11-9.

Then in the bottom of the seventh Eastern replaced Brandon with freshman Richie Derbak, and the Gamecocks scored four more runs.

“Nobody is going out to the mound and being aggressive,” Schmitz said. “We were up 8-0. You can’t just let the other team get their foot back in the door.”

Jacksonville’s Bert Smith hit a single in the bottom of the ninth and then advanced to second on a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Campbell.

The Panthers lost on a double down the left field line by Dani Adamson that brought in Smith for the win.

“I don’t know what it is, Schmitz said. “I think we have strong arms out on the hill, but I guess we don’t have it mentally.”

Eastern won the first game of the series Saturday 10-1 but lost the second game of the doubleheader 9-2.

“We are going to need to rebound from the tough loss this weekend and win every other series and hopefully get first or second in the conference,” Campbell said.

The Panthers return to action when they host Millikin at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Coaches Stadium.