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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Panther baseball team picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season on Friday afternoon, defeating Murray State, 6-3, at Coaches Stadium. Game two of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.
 
Tied at three heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers (8-18, 1-8 OVC) scored two runs on two hits and one Murray State error to take a 5-2 advantage. EIU added an insurance run in the following inning on a bases loaded walk by Cameron Wallace.
 
The Thoroughbreds (12-17, 6-7 OVC) took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, scoring two runs on three hits. A Nick Priessman RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the frame got the Panthers within one (2-1).
 
Ty Stetson hit an RBI single through the left side in the fifth inning, giving Murray State a 3-1 lead. The Panthers tied the contest in the bottom of the frame on a Mitch Gasbarro two-run homer, the first home run of his career.
 
Gasbarro finished the day going 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBI. Treysen Vavra went 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI while Priessman added a 2-for-4 plate performance with two RBI.
 
“(Mitch) Gasbarro had a really nice day for us as did (Treysen) Vavra,” said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. “Vavra has been a hot hitter lately and wants to be in clutch situations for us.”
 
George Kalousek (1-0) earned the win, striking out two with no hits in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief work. Jake Johansmeier posted his first save of the year, striking out one and allowing two hits in the final inning of play.
 
Andrew Grahn made the start for the Panthers as the sophomore pitcher allowed five hits and three runs in 4.1 innings of action.
 
“Andrew Grahn gave us a good outing to start the weekend with (Joe) Greenfield and (Matt) Borens following him in the rotation,” added Schmitz. “(Ben) Kennedy and (George) Kalousek did well, I can't say enough about their performance.”
 
Cameron Finch (3-2) took the loss for Murray State, surrendering nine hits and five runs in six innings of action. Noah Zipko went 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace the Thoroughbreds offense. 

The Panthers posted two more hits (11-9) than Murray State and left five more runners on base (11-6). The Thoroughbreds committed three errors on the day while EIU did not have any miscues.