Eastern lost the series finale against the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars on Sunday 11-5 at Coaches Stadium. 

It looked like it was going to be a high scoring game after the first inning when both teams hit three-run home runs. Sophomore third baseman Mike O’Connor’s three-run shot to left field in the bottom of the first tied the game.

However, the Cougars were the only ones to hold up their end of the bargain for a high scoring game. 

The Cougars would put up three runs in back-to-back innings in the third and fourth, adding two more runs in the fifth and seventh innings.  

The Panthers, however, were shut down after the first inning by the Cougar’s junior starting pitcher Duncan McLaughlin. He was locked in from the second inning onwards, throwing seven straight scoreless innings.  

McLaughlin finished with eight innings pitched, seven hits allowed, four strikeouts, one walk and three earned runs. The Panthers scored two runs once McLaughlin left the game in the ninth inning.  

Eastern had already won the series and were going for the sweep against the Cougars. 

“It’s really hard to sweep somebody,” Eastern manager Jason Anderson said. “A lot of things have to go your way. Their pitcher did a fantastic job.”  

Freshman right-handed pitcher Slater Wilcox started and went two innings. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Jack Potteiger was hit with his first loss of the year despite only facing three batters in the third inning. He gave up two hits and a walk, and all three of them came around to score.  

The biggest bright spot for the Panthers was fifth-year right-handed pitcher Zane Robbins who looked the best he’s looked all year.  

Robbins pitched two scoreless innings striking out four of the six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings. He hadn’t pitched a scoreless inning since February 26 and hadn’t thrown more than 1.1 innings all year.  

“I don’t know what he’s changed,” Anderson said. “Maybe he was just waiting for the sun to come out this year, but he was pretty impressive out there.” 

Eastern falls to 11-20 and snaps their six-game win streak in Ohio Valley Conference play. Their conference record is 6-6, tied for fourth place with SIUE and Morehead State University.  

The Panthers will stay at home and continue the six-game homestand when they take on Bradley University on Tuesday. The first pitch at Coaches Stadium is set for 3 p.m. 

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.