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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mike Hoekstra pitched 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and Richie Derbak connected for a grand slam, leading Eastern Illinois baseball to its first win of the young season, 12-6, at UAB Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (1-7) scored four times in the fourth and sixth innings to overcome a 5-2 deficit.
Daniel Rowe, who started in right field instead of second base, delivered a three-run double in the fourth inning and scored four times. Derbak went deep with the bases loaded in the sixth and tied his career high with five RBIs.
Eastern starter Mike Recchia struck out seven but was unable to record the final out in the fifth inning that would have put him in line for the victory. But Hoekstra backed him up, giving up only three hits and a walk in his longest outing of the season. With runners on the corners and EIU leading 7-6 in the fifth, Hoekstra brought the inning to an end by getting the first batter he faced to ground into a fielder's choice.
The Panthers played their best game of the season defensively and were not charged with an error for the first time this year.
Eastern drew eight walks and seven of those baserunners ended up scoring. Six different Panthers had two hits on the day and EIU finished with a season-high 13.
Cam Strang, Gerik Wallsten and Nick Priessman were all aboard when Rowe came through with an opposite-field double down the left field line, tying the game at 4-4. He scored the go-ahead run on a two-out single from Zach Borenstein.
Rowe later walked to lead off the sixth. After a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Dineen, Borenstein walked and Ben Thoma singled to load the bases for Derbak. The senior went deep to right, hitting his first home run of the season and ninth career. It was the first grand slam by a Panther since Jordan Kreke in the 2009 home finale.
Derbak also picked up an RBI with a two-out single in the first inning, plating Rowe. In the third inning, Dineen walked and scored on a two-out double from Thoma.
Eastern tacked on a two-out insurance run in the seventh. Rowe walked, followed by singles from Dineen and Borenstein.
Five of the eight hits Recchia gave up went for extra bases. He struck two hitters in three of the first four innings, including four consecutive batters at one juncture. UAB scored three times in the first inning and single runs in the second, third and fifth.
The rubber game of the series Sunday is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. The probable pitching matchup is EIU's Brent McNeil (Jr, RHP) and UAB's Beau Pender (Sr, RHP).
