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AUBURN, Ala. – The Panther baseball team defeated Southeastern Conference foe Auburn, 11-10, on Friday evening at Plainsman Park in the first game of the weekend series with the Tigers. EIU improves to 3-5 on the year.
 
Down 7-5 with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning, Treysen Vavra delivered a three-RBI double to right centerfield to put the Panthers up 8-7. Tyler Schweigert added a two-RBI single down the right-field line later in the inning, giving EIU an 11-7 advantage.
 
The Tigers (6-3) stormed back to score three runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame, but the Panther defense held on to secure the series-opening win.
 
“The win was great,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “I was impressed when we were down 7-1 that we continued to fight back and get in the game. Scoring six runs in the ninth inning was huge. Tyler Schweigert and Treysen Vavra had some clutch RBI today that really helped us out.
 
“Defensively, Brant Valach made two unbelievable plays in the ninth inning. Had he not made those plays, the game would have been over.”
 
Caleb Howell gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead in the third inning with a two-out, RBI single before Auburn scored seven unanswered runs over the next two innings to take a 7-1 advantage. EIU responded by cutting its deficit to two runs (7-5) in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Nick Priessman hit an RBI double in the inning to drive in the first run before Brant Valach added a three-RBI double later in the frame.
 
Four Panthers had two or more hits on the day, led by Schweigert who was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Howell and Priessman both went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Valach and Vavra both had a team-high three RBI. 
 
Auburn had three more hits (14-11) than EIU and left three more runners on base (10-6). The Panthers committed the lone error in the contest.
 
Garrett Cooper and Cullen Wacker both went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run to pace the Tigers. Terrance Dedrick (1-2) took the loss for Auburn, surrendering five runs and two hits in 0.2 innings of action.
 
Garrison Stenger (1-0) posted the win for EIU while Scott Houdek recorded the save. All told, the Panthers used eight pitchers on the day with Matt Borens starting the game. Borens went 4.2 innings with three strikeouts while allowing seven runs (three earned).
 
The Panthers and Tigers return play game two of the series on Saturday, March 2 at 3 p.m.