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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Redshirt-freshman Demetre Taylor went 3-for-5 with five RBI and three runs to lead the Panther baseball team to a 20-2 defeat of Illinois State on Wednesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.
 
EIU improved to 7-18 on the year and 3-1 against the Redbirds this season. Illinois State dropped to 12-14 overall.
 
The Panthers scored 11 runs through the game's first two innings to build an early 11-0 advantage. Kyle Stanton hit a two-RBI double in the top of third inning to get the Redbirds with nine (11-2) before a Nick Priessman RBI single in the bottom of the frame made the score 12-2.
 
EIU added eight runs in the fifth inning on eight hits to make the score 20-2. All told, the Panthers had five doubles and two home runs on the day.
 
EIU posted three more hits (17-14) than ISU and left five fewer runners on base (11-6). The Redbirds had one error in the contest while EIU did not have any miscues.
 
Five Panthers had two or more hits in the game. Brant Valach went 3-for-6 with three runs and three RBI while Dane Sauer went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Priessman finished the day going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run. Jason Scholl hit his first career home run in the second inning, a three-run shot over the right-field fence.
 
“Dane Sauer did a great job really attacking the ball today,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “Mitch (Gasbarro) made some great plays on defense at second base. I was also impressed with how many hits to the opposite side of the field we had today.”
 
Jaden Widdersheim (2-3) earned the win, striking out three and allowing two runs in four innings of work. Garrison Stenger, CJ Martin and Jake Johansmeier combined to pitch five scoreless innings of action with three strikeouts.
 
Jack Landwehr (2-1) took the loss for ISU, surrendering six runs and four hits in 0.2 innings of action. Paul Dejong went 3-for-4 at plate for the Redbirds.
 
EIU continues its four-game homestand with an Ohio Valley Conference series with Murray State on April 5-7. Game one of the weekend series is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday.