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AUBURNDALE, Fla.  – The Panther baseball team defeated Bucknell, 6-5, in 11 innings of Thursday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park. EIU improves to 6-10 on the year.
 
In the bottom of the 11^th inning, Ryan Dineen stole second base after a two-out walk to put a runner in scoring position for the Panthers. Bucknell's short stop mishandled a David Ciaglia hit on the following play, scoring Dineen from second and giving the Panthers the extra-inning victory.
 
The Panthers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a T.J. McManus RBI double. Bucknell scored four unanswered runs coming in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-1 advantage over EIU.
 
EIU fought back by scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at four. In the top of the 10^th inning, Bob Donato hit a single homerun to right field to take a 5-4 lead. Tyler Schweigert tied the game in the bottom of the frame as he scored on a Caleb Howell RBI fielder's choice.
 
EIU posted four more hits (11-7) than the Bison and did not commit any errors to Bucknell's four miscues. The Panthers left 10 runners on base while the Bison stranded five runners.
 
McManus paced the Panther offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Five different EIU players scored and run and collected an RBI in the win.
 
Troy Barton (2-1) picked up the win, striking out two and not allowing any runs or hits in the final two innings of play. Mike Hoekstra made the start and posted six strikeouts in six innings of action.
 
Matt Lamore (0-1) took the loss for Bucknell, surrendering two runs (one earned) and three hits in the final 4.1 innings of play. Scott Reed led the team at the plate, going 1-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.  
 
The Panthers conclude spring break action against Northwestern at 9 a.m. in Winter Haven, Fla., at Chain of Lakes Park.