CHAMPAIGN – Tuesday was not the Panthers’ day as the University of Illinois torched Eastern on the base paths and pounded Eastern 10-1 at Illinois Field.

The Illini (14-13, 3-3 Big Ten) were 8-for-9 on stolen base attempts, manufacturing five runs. Sophomore catcher Gerik Wallsten could not keep up with the speedy onslaught, including having a throwing error in the sixth.

Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said his team needs to steal to win games. His crew has 67 steals on the season.

“It’s a part of our strategy every game,” Hartleb said. “When we’re aggressive, it helps us get better pitches at the plate, and we don’t have that much power. We have more of a speed team and it’s what we have to do to win games.”

Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz was frustrated that the Panthers only threw out one base runner.

“Part of our game is we don’t throw runners out well and that was the strength of their team,” Schmitz said. “They were able to get anything they could.”

The game did not start well in the first as sophomore third baseman Zach Borenstein hit a single with one out. But sophomore leftfielder Ben Thoma lined out to Illinois freshman third baseman Brandon Hohl who then doubled off Borenstein to end the inning.

In the bottom half, Illinois sophomore center fielder Willie Argo beat out junior shortstop Cam Strang’s throw. Argo stole second base, senior first baseman Mike Giller had a single and stole second and both scored on consecutive fielder’s choices for a 2-0 Illinois lead.

The second inning had Eastern (9-22, 4-5 Ohio Valley Conference) retired in order on only four pitches from Illini senior pitcher Kevin Manson. Illini sophomore shortstop Josh Parr and Argo doubled home runs for a 4-0 edge.

Red-shirt sophomore pitcher Mike Martin took over for freshman pitcher Troy Barton (1-4, 6.41 ERA), who gave up four runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings for the loss.

Manson (2-0, 2.35 ERA) had 18 straight strikes and retired seven consecutive batters in three innings of work for the win. However, Illini sophomore pitcher Brian de la Torriente came in during the fourth inning and pitched three innings, giving up one run.

Eastern’s bats finally woke up in the fifth as Alex Gee doubled to the rightfield line. He eventually scored on an RBI single from Strang. Thoma killed the rally by grounding into his second double play.

Martin and junior pitcher Matt Miller gave up three runs, including senior designated hitter Aaron Johnson blasting a two-run homer in left-center for a 7-1 Illini lead.

In the sixth, the Panthers’ defense imploded with three errors – Borenstein, Wallsten and Strang – as the Illini scored three runs for a 10-1 advantage.

Despite the shellacking, red-shirt freshman centerfielder Daniel Bracken made his first start since Akron March 17 over freshman centerfielder Daniel Rowe. Rowe was 4-for-21 for a .190 average during the seven-game home stand.

Bracken slapped a single passed the infield off Torriente for his first career hit in the sixth.

“It was a sigh of relief,” Bracken said. “I’ve been hitting hard to people all season, and it kind of feels good to see it fall through.”

Borenstein had a single and Gee walked, but senior designated hitter Richie Derbak popped out to third in foul territory to leave the bases loaded.

Senior rightfielder Curt Restko had a 13-game hitting streak snapped by going 0-for-3.

“We just have to forget; we’ve got to go to Hooters when we go home,” Schmitz joked. “I learned this a really long time ago, short memories on a really bad night are really important.”

The Panthers next game is 1 p.m. Saturday against Tennessee Tech in the first of a doubleheader at Cookeville, Tenn.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or rtbajek@eiu.edu.

Senior outfielder Curt Restko dives back to first base while trying not to be picked off against Morehead St. Saturday at Coaches Stadium.(Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

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