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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois took advantage of some early Southern Illinois errors as the Panthers snapped a nine-game losing skid with an 11-7 victory over the Salukis on Tuesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.

EIU scored six unearned runs against five different SIU pitchers as they improved to 4-14 on the season.  SIU fell to 9-11.

Nick Priessman started the Panthers off in the first as he drove home Mitch Gasbarro with an RBI single to right.  Gasbarro had reached on one of three errors committed by Saluki third basemen during the contest. 

SIU would take its only lead of the game in the third inning as Matt Jones hit a two-run homer to left putting SIU up 2-1.  Jake Johansmeier (1-0) would settle down after that pitching five innings allowing three runs as he picked up his first collegiate win. 

Gasbarro opened the bottom of the third reaching on an error.  He would come around to score as EIU plated three runs against SIU starter Brad Drust (1-2).  Brant Valach and Jacob Reese both delivered RBI singles in the inning.  Drust allowed four runs in 2.1 innings of work, only one run was earned.

“We came out and did the little things better today to pick up this win,” said head coach Jimmy Schmitz.  “We drew seven walks and a couple of those little hits by guys like Valach and Reese drove in runs.  We have been working with the guys to try and not press too much at the plate, today it paid off.”

Treysen Vavra tacked on two runs for the Panthers with a double to center in the fourth and Nathan Sopena delivered a three-run homer in the seventh to put EIU comfortably in front.  Sopena collected three of EIU's nine RBI for the day. 

Leading 11-3 in the ninth EIU's pitching struggled to close out the game as the Panthers were forced to use three pitchers to pick up the win.  After striking out the first two Saluki batters looking, EIU allowed a combination of three hits, three walks and one error as SIU closed the margin to 11-7.  Joe Greenfield then picked up a ground out with bases loaded to save the contest.  It was Greenfield's first save of the season.

Priessman and Trey Russell both had two hits to lead EIU.  Brock Harding was 3-for-5 for SIU.

The Panthers return to action this weekend playing a three game series at Illinois State.