Eastern salvaged the series against Morehead State University on Sunday afternoon at Coaches Stadium, winning the series finale 5-1.
The Panthers seemed more amped up than usual because it was senior day. 13 seniors were recognized before the game.
Senior right-handed pitcher Colton Coca started for the Panthers and threw for the first six innings. Throughout the game, Coca walked five players and struck out another five, only allowing two hits.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jonathon Hanscom took Coca’s place and entered in the seventh inning, shutting the Eagles down. Hanscom allowed only one hit and two baserunners in the final nine outs of the game. Hanscom picked up his fifth save of the year, and Coca got the win and a quality start, improving his record to 2-3.
Panther’s head baseball coach and manager Jason Anderson was pleased with what he saw from the team today.
“We’ve been waiting all year for a game like that,” Anderson said. “We finally played good baseball and took something from somebody.”
Anderson said Coca’s start and Hanscom’s save were reliving throughout the game.
“We needed them,” Anderson said. “I’ve been stressing the last four Sundays that its senior Sunday; somebody’s gotta step up and win a game, and they did.”
Offensively, Eastern scored all their runs early as four different players batted in a run.
The Panthers scored three runs in the home half of the second inning and capped off their run support with a solo home run by junior infielder Tyler Castro, his home run of the season.
The Panthers improve to 16-32 overall and 10-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Eastern still controls their own destiny in their race for the eighth and final spot in the OVC Tournament.
Lindenwood’s win today over the University of Tennessee-Martin sets up a winner-take-all series starting next Thursday between the Panthers and Lindenwood.
Whoever wins that series goes to the tournament and the loser is eliminated from contention.
Eastern’s next game will be against Illinois State in Normal on Tuesday, May 14. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.
