University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eastern Illinois drops Southern Miss, 11-6
3/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Eastern Illinois drops Southern Miss, 11-6
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Aided by two three-run home runs and four Southern Miss errors, Eastern Illinois took an 11-6 win over the Golden Eagles, Saturday, at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
Brian Nickell launched a three-run shot over right field in the first inning, and Bret Pignatiello blasted another three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the Panthers (2-4) to the win. Eastern Illinois finished the game with 11 runs on 13 hits, while Southern Miss (10-4) scored six runs on 10 hits.
"We gave up some home runs, had too many errors and didn't hit the ball with runners on base," Golden Eagle Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "You won't win games when you do that. We just didn't get it done in all phases of the game, except for the fact that I thought Bob McCrory pitched well."
The Panthers got out of the gate early, with Pete Pirman lining a leadoff single off Southern Miss starter Daniel Stewart through the left side. However, Stewart picked Pirman off at first and then forced Ben Duke into a groundout to second base to regain control and retire the first two batters. After Kirk Walters drew a walk, Pignatiello reached on an error by the centerfielder to put runners on the corners. Nickell then followed with his home run, quickly putting the visitors ahead, 3-0.
Southern Miss answered though, in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Jeff Cook singled through the right side and Griff Israel walked to put both runners on. Clint Stoy reached on an error by the shortstop as Cook scored and Israel advanced to third. Jarrett Hoffpauir loaded the bases with another walk, and Brad Willcutt doubled a Pete Martin pitch down the right field line, clearing the bases and putting the Golden Eagles ahead, 4-3.
The hosts extended the lead, plating a run in the second inning as Allen Winningham singled through the left side to score Carlos Velasquez.
Eastern Illinois squared things up, though, with two runs of its own in the third inning as Duke and Walters both scored.
The scoring stayed the same over the next inning-and-a-half before Pignatiello homered to give the Panthers the lead for good. Eastern Illinois scored two runs in the final inning, giving it an 11-5 lead through eight-and-a-half innings.
Southern Miss had opportunities, but stranded five batters in the final five innings. The Golden Eagles scored the final run in the bottom of the ninth as Hoffpauir drew a bases-loaded walk to score Velasquez.
Stewart (0-1) took the loss for Southern Miss, allowing eight runs, four earned, on eight hits in four innings. McCrory threw 3.1 innings, while Brent Leach closed out the final 1.2 innings.
Velasquez and Winningham both had two hits to lead the Golden Eagles.
Damon White (2-0) earned the win for Eastern Illinois, pitching in relief of Martin. Nick Albu and Jordan Pals combined to pitch the final inning.
Duke, Walters, Pignatiello and Tim Aurrichio all had two hits each for the Panthers.
The final game of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
