Joe Greenfield pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and Brant Valach hit two home runs, leading the Eastern baseball team past Southeast Missouri 10-3 Saturday afternoon, avoiding the series sweep.

Following 7-5 and 11-7 losses on Thursday and Friday, respectively, the Panthers salvaged the series finale of their series to improve to 6-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

After the Redhawks took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, with an RBI-single off the bat of Derek Gibson that scored Matt Tellor, Eastern outscored Southeast Missouri 10-2 in the final eight innings, as Greenfield surrendered a total of six hits during his eight-inning stint.

Eastern took a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning, when it extended its advantage to six after a four-run rally.

Demetre Taylor hit a single to center field, which allowed Dane Sauer to score for the Panthers to start off the scoring. With two runners on base, Valach hit a three-run home run down the left-field line – his second three-run home run of the game.

Eastern coach Jim Schmitz said Valach is still playing with an injury to his right hand that extends into his wrist, but is still helping the Panthers despite feeling the pain.

“He’s hurting and his hand isn’t really healthy, but he’s hanging in there for us,” Schmitz said. “Two big three-run home runs were impressive.”

Valach’s fifth home run of the season gave Eastern a 7-1 lead, which would be more than enough for the Panthers Saturday.

Eastern added three more runs in the eighth inning, sealing its win and retrieving a win against the Redhawks.

The third baseman went 3-for-5, driving in six runs with two home runs, as Valach increased his batting average to .460 in OVC play.

Valach put the Panthers ahead in the fourth inning, hitting a three-run home run to left field off of Southeast Missouri starter Travis Hayes.

Meanwhile, Greenfield scattered six hits during his eight innings of work, allowing no runs between the second and sixth inning.

Schmitz said the performance by Greenfield, coupled with recent starts by Matt Borens should carry the momentum for Eastern in its last month of the season.

“(Greenfield) was so impressive, very powerful and dominating from the beginning,” he said. “So, if that doesn’t energize the team, I don’t know what will with him and Matt throwing so well right now.”

Greenfield’s command was better than in previous outings, as he walked two batters, while striking out four.

The right-handed pitcher improved to 5-4 this season and lowered his ERA to 4.99.

Hayes on the other hand, suffered his first loss of the season, as he was chased out of the game during Eastern’s seventh-inning rally. Hayes was charged with six runs, all of them earned, as he gave up seven hits and two walks in his 6.2 innings of work.

Hayes is now 5-1 this season.

“I really think this is it – every season needs a spark and it’s not just winning one of three because (Friday) was a deflating loss, very deflating loss, but we regrouped,” Schmitz said. “This is it, though, a season has to have a time to get going.”

Despite the win for the Panthers, they are still near the bottom of the OVC standings, behind four teams for the sixth spot, which would put them in the conference tournament.

Valach’s two-home run, six-RBI afternoon was assisted by two other players that had multi-hit games as well.

Taylor went 2-for-5, scoring two runs and driving in another for Eastern.

Tyler Schweigert also had two hits, going 2-for-4, with a run scored. Mitch Gasbarro also added an RBI and scored twice for the Panthers.

Moving forward, the Panthers are going to have to rely on more than their middle of the order hitters to win games, like they did Saturday, Schmitz said.

“Now, we have more weapons that are really contributing, so it’s not just Demetre and Valach,” he said.

Troy Barton allowed a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning that brought in the Redhawks’ third run, but then struck out Jason Blum to end the game.

Barton struck out the side in the ninth, ending Eastern’s four-game losing streak.

The Panthers have four conference series’ remaining, with their next one starting with a three-game set at home against Belmont. The first game starts at 3 p.m. Friday at Coaches Stadium.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.