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NORMAL, Ill. – Brant Valach went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and a RBI as the Panther baseball team defeated Illinois State, 9-5, on Friday night at Duffy Bass Field in the series opener between the two schools.

“Our guys are taking a simpler approach at the plate recently and are playing hard,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “Our relief pitching was outstanding today. (Ben) Kennedy shut the door on them and (Scott) Houdek did a great job of closing the game.” 
 
Trailing 5-3 heading into the sixth inning, the Panthers (5-14) scored two runs on one hit and one ISU error to tie the game. EIU added three runs in the following inning to take an 8-5 advantage before adding an insurance run in the ninth inning on a Derek Page RBI single.
 
The Panthers took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning before the Redbirds (10-10) got within two (3-1) in the bottom of the frame when Zac Johnson scored on a Jack Czeszewski fielder's choice. ISU would score four unanswered runs over the next two innings, making the score 5-3.
 
EIU posted a season-high 13 hits while the Redbirds had 11 hits. EIU committed one more error (5-4) in the contest and left seven less runners on base (17-10).
 
Jacob Reese and Demetre Taylor both went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Dane Sauer added a team-high two RBI.
 
Ben Kennedy (1-1) picked up his first career win, striking out four and surrendering three hits in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. Scott Houdek posted his second save of the season, allowing only three hits with two strikeouts in the final three innings of play.
 
Daniel Dwyer went 3-for-5 with two RBI to pace the Redbird offense while Johnson went 2-for-5 with two runs. Otto Roberts (0-1) took the loss, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) without retiring any of the four batters he faced.
 
The Panthers and Redbirds will conclude the series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday, March 23. The two teams were originally set to play one game on Saturday and Sunday, but inclement weather heading towards central Illinois forced a schedule change.