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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Panther baseball team dropped its home opener to Austin Peay on Friday evening in Ohio Valley Conference action, 11-3, at Coaches Stadium. Game two of the weekend series is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16.
 
“We have to overcome mistakes in the field,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “Austin Peay is a good team and when you make mistakes they are going to take advantage of it. We started the game playing well and got some runs, but we have to play well for all 27 outs.”
 
With the game tied at three heading into the fifth inning, the Governors (16-2, 1-0 OVC) scored two runs on four hits and one Panther error to take a 5-3 advantage. Austin Peay rattled off six runs on four hits and one error in the six inning to make the score 9-3. Craig Massoni hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to put the Governors ahead by eight (11-3).
 
The Panthers (3-13, 0-4 OVC) got on the scoreboard early, scoring a run in three of the first four innings of play. Tyler Schweigert hit an RBI double down the right-field line in the second inning for the first run of the game before a Cameron Berra sacrifice fly made the score 2-0 in the following inning. EIU scored its final run in the fourth inning on a Treysen Vavra RBI single through the right side.
 
Austin Peay posted five more hits (14-9) than EIU and left one more runner on base (7-6). The Panthers committed two more errors (3-1) than the Governors in the contest.
 
Nathan Sopena went 3-for-4 with a run to pace the Panthers at the plate while Vavra went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brant Valach also went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Matt Borens (0-3) took the loss for EIU, surrendering seven hits and six runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings of work. The sophomore right-handed pitcher also had two strikeouts and four walks.
 
Lee Ridenhour (3-0) earned the win for Austin Peay, striking out eight batters and while scattering nine hits and three runs in eight innings of action. Massoni led the Governors offense as he went 3-for-4 with five RBI and one run.