Friday, April 13, 2007 12:55 PM CDT
Panthers pound Olivet for 13 hits in nine-run win
by the jg/t-c
sports@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON – Mark Chagnon collected a season-high three RBIs and freshman Curt Restko recorded his first collegiate hit with a solo home run, as Eastern Illinois baseball cruised past Olivet Nazarene, 12-3, Thursday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.
Twelve of EIU’s 13 hits were singles, as Restko’s sixth-inning longball to left center was the team’s only extra-base hit of the day.
Brett Nommensen and Casey Spears essentially switched spots in the lineup and the change paid off. Nommensen, batting ninth for the first time in his career, registered three hits while Spears had a pair of singles and scored three times. Thursday’s game, in fact, marked the first time that Nommensen had not been the leadoff man in the 73 games he has started as a Panther.
“We made some moves today and Spears did what we ask him to do, just get on base,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “And Nommy seemed more relaxed at the bottom of the order. We’re trying to switch things up because we’re obviously not scoring a lot of runs. Those two guys had a really good day.”
Alex Gee took over for Erik Huber, who saw his first action since April 1, after the fourth inning and recorded a two-run single in his first at-bat. Huber’s career long 21-game hitting streak, which was believed to the third longest active streak in the nation, ended with an 0-for-2 showing. He was intentionally walked in his first at-bat before grounding out to the left side in his other two plate appearances. The senior’s run ended two games shy of the program record.
Brian Morrell (2-0) tossed two innings of scoreless ball, earning his second victory of the season. He gave up a hit in both innings he pitched but more importantly he did not issue a base on balls. The sophomore right-hander walked five of the nine batters he faced in his last appearance.
The Panthers (13-13) drew 10 walks as a team, while the pitching staff issued just three.
Eastern scored five of its 12 runs in the sixth inning, sending 11 men to the plate in the big inning. Spears ignited the rally with an infield single. After a walk and an error, Gee drove in the first two runs of the inning with a base hit to center. Richie Derbak and Nommensen also recorded an RBI in the frame and Chagnon scored on a passed ball.
The bottom of the order ignited a three-run second inning. Three consecutive singles by Derbak, Adam Varrassi and Nommensen loaded the bases with one out. Olivet (18-11) looked like it might keep the Panthers off the scoreboard after getting a force out a home on a ground ball to third off the bat off of Spears but an error extended the inning. Chagnon then made the Tigers pay with a two-run single to left center.
Chagnon also knocked in a run in the fourth inning before giving way to Reskto in left. Ryan Meyer and Jordan Kreke registered RBIs in the late innings.
Originally slated to be a season long six-game homestand, the Panthers actually had as many games cancelled (three) by inclement weather as they played over the last 10 days. With the win, EIU improved to 9-3 since returning from the annual spring break trip nonetheless.
Eastern is to return to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Jacksonville State Saturday.
Eastern Illinois AB R H BI
Spears, rf 4 3 2 0
Astrouski, rf 1 0 1 0
Kreke, 3B 2 1 0 1
Chagnon, lf 4 1 2 3
Restko, lf 2 1 1 1
Huber, 1B 2 0 0 0
Gee, 1B 1 2 1 2
Peppenhorst, c 2 1 0 0
Moore, c 1 0 0 0
Cobb, dh 3 0 0 0
Meyer, ph/dh 1 0 0 1
Derbak, 2B 4 0 2 1
Varrassi, ss 3 1 1 0
Blaskovitz, ss 0 1 0 0
Nommensen, cf 5 1 3 1
Totals 35 12 13 10
Olivet Nazarene 000 110 100 —-3-5-3
Eastern Illinois 030 105 21x —-12-13-4
Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO
Morrell (2-0) 3 2 0 0 0 2
Brandon 2 2 2 0 1 2
Foley 2 1 1 1 0 2
Jeske 1 0 0 0 2 0
Guttosch 1 0 0 0 0 1
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