Game One: BOX (PDF)  |  BOX (HTML)
Game Two: BOX (PDF)  |  BOX (HTML)

JACKSON, Miss. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team went 1-1 on opening day, defeating Mississippi Valley State in their first game on Friday afternoon before falling to Jackson State in their second game. EIU defeated MVSU, 11-2, and lost to Jackson State, 2-1.
 
GAME ONE: EIU 11, MVSU 2
The Panthers scored eight runs in the game's first three innings to upend MVSU, 11-2, in the season opener for EIU.
 
“It's good to get off to a good start,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “We did some little things early such as moving runners over and getting them to score. We were able to score eight runs in the first three innings.
 
“Overall, I was really pleased with how we executed safety bunts and our hit and runs. We were also able to steal three bases today, and that was something we said that were going to try and do this season.”
 
Sophomore Jacob Reese went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a double. Redshirt-senior David Ciaglia was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a double and a home run. Newcomer Caleb Howell added two runs, hits and RBI.
 
Sophomore Christian Slazinik posted the win for EIU, striking out six batters and only walking one in six innings of work. Senior Darin Worman threw five strikeouts and did not walk any batters in the final three innings.
 
“I was excited to see David Ciaglia get off to a good start after an offseason shoulder injury,” said Schmitz. “I was also impressed with Christian Slazinik and Darin Worman who combined for 11 strikeouts and only one walk.”
 
GAME TWO: JSU 2, EIU 1
Despite a career-high 10 strikeouts by RHP Mike Hoekstra, the Panthers dropped a 2-1 contest to tournament host Jackson State.
 
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second on a Frank Solis RBI single before the Panthers scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth on a Brant Valach RBI that scored David Ciaglia.
 
Jackson State scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth when Gabriel Babineaux stole third base and advanced home on a throwing error by EIU.
 
The Panthers had one more hit (6-5) than the Tigers in the loss, paced by Jacob Reese who went 2-for-4 at the plate. Both teams committed one error in the contest.
 
Hoekstra only allowed three hits while walking one batter in 6.2 innings of work. Newcomer Keith Koser took the loss for EIU, allowing two hits while striking out two batters in 1.1 innings.
 
Solis led Jackson State at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Chris Wingard picked up the win on the mound, posting five strikeouts and six walks in 6.2 innings. Gary Mele earned the save for the Tigers.