Eastern Illinois 7 Southeast 6 - Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (23-25) dropped their first contest in the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Friday evening falling to #4 Eastern Illinois 7-6 at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn.
 
The Redhawks outhit the Panthers 12-8 in the contest, but the Panthers hit two home runs in the game as they advance to the tournament final on Saturday.
 
The Panthers got on the board in top of the third inning off of a solo home run to left field from David Ciaglia to make it 1-0 EIU.
 
The Redhawks tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning as Taylor Heon scored on a Jesse Tierney RBI single to centerfield.
 
The Panthers added four runs in the fourth inning to jump out to a 5-1 lead. T.J. McManus got the outburst started with a two-run double.
 
Ben Thoma followed with a two-run home run to left centerfield.  His home run broke the Eastern Illinois record for home runs in a career.
 
The Redhawks battled back in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs to tie the game at 5-5.  Southeast scattered four hits in the inning that saw the Redhawks bat around.
 
Jesse Tierney added an RBI on a hit-by-pitch and Trenton Moses added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.
 
Redshirt Freshman Andy Lennington added a two-run single to tie the contest, but the Redhawks stranded the bases loaded to end the inning.
 
The Panthers added a pair of runs in the seventh inning to make it 7-5. Cameron Berra highlighted the inning with a single followed by a sacrifice fly from Ryan Dineen.
 
The Redhawks mounted a late comeback bid.  Heon drove in Andy Lennington to pull the Redhawks within one at 7-6, but Adam Clark got out of the Jam as the Panthers took the contest.
 
Lynn (4-1) was impressive tying a career-high with eight strikeouts on the night throwing 6.1 innings.
 
Lennington led the Redhawks with three hits going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Derek Gibson also added three hits on the night. Heon was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
 
Moses extended his reaching base safely streak to 78-games with a walk in the contest.
 
Kenton Parmley tied the school record for starts in a career with 216 tying Southeast Missouri Hall of Famer Jeremy Johnson.
 
The Redhawks will play Austin Peay at 12:00 p.m., CT. on Saturday afternoon in an elimination game. If the Redhawks defeat the Govs they will face Eastern Illinois at 3:30 p.m., CT.