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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Redshirt-senior T.J. McManus hit a lead-off home run in the top of the 10^th inning to lead the Panther baseball team to a 7-6 Ohio Valley Conference series-opening win over Tennessee Tech on Friday night at the Averitt Baseball Complex. EIU improves to 17-23 (7-8 OVC) on the year.
 
“He is doing everything right,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz on his senior first baseman McManus. “His approach is great and he knows when to get a hit for us. He is having a remarkable year and he came through in the clutch tonight with the game-winning home run.”
 
Leading by two (4-2) heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers surrendered four runs on five hits to go down 6-4. EIU fought back in the top of the ninth as they picked up two runs on three hits. A George Kalousek RBI ground out with bases loaded scored the first run before Caleb Howell hit an RBI single to right field to score the final run of the inning.
 
McManus gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Howell. After the Golden Eagles took a one-run lead in the bottom of the frame (2-1), EIU scored three unanswered runs over the next four innings to take a 4-2 lead. The Panthers scored two runs in the third inning on TTU error before scoring a run in the sixth on a McManus RBI single up the middle.
 
TTU had one more hit (15-14) than EIU, but committed three more errors in the loss (3-0). The Panthers stranded one more runner on base (15-14) in the contest.
 
Offensively, McManus led the Panthers as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs. Howell went 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI in the victory while Ben Thoma added three hits.
 
Adam Clark (1-0) posted his first career win, striking out five batters and only allowing one hit in the final two innings of the game. Mike Hoekstra made the start and went 5.1 innings as he surrendered nine hits and two runs. A total of five pitchers saw action in the win and combined to post 12 strikeouts – the seventh time this season the pitching staff has thrown 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
 
“Adam Clark is coming into games and giving us the closer role we really need,” said Schmitz. “Our ability to comeback late in a game is a big step for our team.”
 
David Hess (2-5) took the loss for TTU, striking out four and allowing three hits and one run in the game's final two innings. Tristan Archer made the start and recorded eight strikeouts while allowing four runs (one earned) and six hits in six innings. Ben Burgess led the team at the plate, going 2-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored.
 
Game two of the weekend series is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.