Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2 >> Photo Gallery (by S. King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois started and ended the day in a tie in the Ohio Valley Conference race with Austin Peay as the two teams split a Saturday twinbill at Coaches Stadium.
Eastern Illinois won the opener 4-3 working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the ninth while Austin Peay won the nightcap 8-4. EIU now stands at 21-26 overall, 12-11 in the OVC while APSU is 25-25, 12-11 in the OVC.
The Panthers built an early 3-0 lead in game one as Zach Skidmore delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the third and Curt Restko singled in a run in the fourth. After Austin Peay pushed across a run in the top of the fifth, EIU responded with a Richie Derbak RBI single in the bottom half of the frame.
The Governors cut that margin to one in the eighth scoring two runs against the Panthers bullpen. Matt Kole had the big hit in the inning with a two-run single through the right side.
Scott Foley was able to pitch the Panthers out the eighth and then danced around several APSU scoring chances in the ninth. The Governors loaded the bases with no outs before Foley enticed a double play that had one out at home and another at first. After Kole was intentionally walked to load the bases, Foley struck out Trey Lucas looking to end the game.
Foley picked up his fifth save of the season. Freshman Josh Mueller allowed one run on three hits in six strong innings to improve to 5-6. Stephen Huff was saddled with the loss allowing three runs in 3.1 innings to fall to 5-5.
Errors were the story of the nightcap as the Panthers committed six miscues allowing Austin Peay to score four unearned runs in an 8-4 win. The Governors scored two runs in the first Kole and Lucas both drove home unearned runs against EIU starter Tristan Facer. The errors would continue to hurt Facer in the second as he was chased as one plus innings allowing six runs, three earned to fall to 3-3.
Austin Peay tagged on four runs in the second and one more in third which was more than enough offense for David Vicini who went the distance to improve to 2-3 despite scattering 11 EIU hits. Charleston native J.B. Gilbert had the big knock in the second inning with a two-run double against his hometown team.
Brett Nommensen provided most of the offense for EIU in the second game going 4-for-4 at the plate with three singles and a seventh inning home run. Alex Gee also had two hits in the second game. Skidmore and Derbak were both 2-for-3 for EIU in the opener.
Rafael Hill had two hits for APSU in the opener while Josh Kemph was 3-for-4 in the second game.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Both teams enter the game tied for third in the OVC standings one game ahead of Tennessee Tech which was swept at Jacksonville State on Saturday.
