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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Redshirt-senior David Ciaglia went 1-for-3 with three RBI in his final game at Coaches Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, lifting the Panther baseball team over Bradley, 4-3. EIU improves to 25-25 on the year.
 
“When looking at his batting average, most people might think 'Why is he playing?'” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz about Ciaglia after the game. “In the past I might have moved him out of the lineup, but he's our guy. He has a lot of pop in his bat and we have a lot of confidence in him.”
 
With the game tied at three heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, Ciaglia drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Tyler Schweigert from third base.
 
Senior Darin Worman (4-4) retired the final three Bradley batters to preserve the Panther victory in his final game at Coaches Stadium. Worman earned the win, only allowing one hit in the contest's final 1.1 innings.
 
EIU got on the scoreboard first, scoring one run on two errors to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Bob Schuch hit an RBI single up the middle in the fourth inning to knot the game at one. Ciaglia gave the Panthers 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer over the left-field fence.
 
Back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Jason Leblebijian and Schuch scored the Braves final two runs, tying the game at three in the top of the eighth inning. Schuch paced the Braves at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Leblebijian and Derek Sprout both added two hits in the loss.
 
Bradley had one more hit (9-8) than EIU, but committed two more errors (2-0). Both squads left seven runners on base in the contest.
 
Caleb Howell was the Panthers lone player to have more than one hit in the game, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Ben Thoma added a hit and a run while Ryan Dineen recorded one hit and an RBI.
 
Patrick Flanagan (2-3) took the loss for Bradley, surrendering two hits and one run in the game's final inning of play. David Koll made the start and went 3.1 innings while allowing three hits and three runs (two earned). Koll also threw four strikeouts.
 
The Panthers return to action at Jacksonville State on May 17-19 in an Ohio Valley Conference series to conclude regular-season play. EIU has already locked up a spot in the OVC Tournament that will be held in Jackson, Tenn., on May 23-26.