Arkansas State baseball (11-5, 0-0 SBC) struggled to find a rhythm for most of the contest against Eastern Illinois (2-11, 0-0 OVC), but managed to hit their stride in the final three innings to claim an 8-7 victory on Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.

Dylan Heine made his fourth start of the season and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out two over 3.1 innings pitched. On the flip side, Daedrick Cail had an impressive day at the plate, going 3-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Eastern Illinois loaded the bases in the first inning, cashing in with a run off a throwing error and an RBI-single from Kolten Poorman. Cade Tucker responded in the bottom frame with a sacrifice fly to left field while Cail followed with an RBI-knock to tie the game at 2-2 after an inning of play.

The Panthers would dominate over the next five innings, outscoring the Scarlet and Black 5-0 over that span.

Grant Lashure put EIU back in front in the third after grounding one off of Heine and into centerfield for an RBI-single. One inning later, Lucas Loos recorded an RBI after reaching on a fielder’s choice that allowed Dylan Drumke to score uncontested.

In the sixth, Loos struck again with an RBI-double while Cade Zalewski extended the deficit further with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Mike O’Conor capped off the three-run frame with a single through the gap and into left field, making the score 7-2.

A-State had two batters reach the bases during the five-inning stretch, with Allen Grier recording the only hit in the second inning.

Austen Jaslove broke the scoreless stretch with a single to right center before Aidan Houseworth entered the game and recorded another RBI-knock. Grier and Wil French brought in a pair of runs on groundouts and cut the Red Wolves’ deficit to one.

Cail tied the game during the next inning after sending a shot to left center for an RBI-double. Cason Campbell put the Scarlet and Black in front for the first time in the contest with a single to the right side, making the score 8-7 with Eastern Illinois down to one last opportunity.

The Panthers were retired in order as Arkansas State claimed their first series victory in March and their third of the season. Chase Armstrong (1-0) earned the win and Max Charlton (2) claimed the save while Chaney Trout (1-2) took the loss.

NEXT UP

Arkansas State hits the road for two midweek matchups, beginning with a trip to face Little Rock on Tuesday, March 12. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+

A-State Splits Doubleheader with Eastern Illinois

Arkansas State baseball (10-5, 0-0 SBC) demolished Eastern Illinois (2-10, 0-0 OVC) by a score of 20-3 in the first of two games, but the Panthers responded with a 6-3 victory to close the doubleheader on Saturday evening at Tomlinson Stadium.

Jelle van der Lelie (2-1) started in the first game for A-State, finishing with one earned run allowed on five hits while striking out four over five innings pitched. Collin Maloney started in the next matchup and finished with one earned run on four hits while striking out five over 4.1 innings.

Dylan DeButy had a career day at the plate, finishing with two home runs and a career high seven RBIs in the opener. The Senior fell one shy of the team record set by Shane Eaker in 1992 against Little Rock.

GAME ONE

After Mike O’Conor put Eastern Illinois ahead in the first with an RBI-single, the Scarlet and Black unloaded starting with an RBI-groundout from Cason Tollett. A throwing error put A-State ahead before a pair of bases-loaded walks made the score 4-1.

An RBI-double for Austen Jaslove extended the lead to four runs in the second before DeButy fired the Red Wolves’ first grand slam of the season to left center. One inning later, Tollett brought in a run with after singling to right field and Daedrick Cail knocked in two more with a single up the middle.

DeButy capped off the third with a two-run blast over the left-field wall, making the score 15-1 going into the fourth.

The Red Wolves scored five more runs over the next three innings, including a two-run homer for Cade Tucker and a two-run single for Allen Grier. Nyan Hayes brought in the final run of the game for A-State on a sacrifice fly and made the score 20-1.

Cade Zalewski broke the Panthers’ silence in the seventh with a two-run home run, but it would not be enough to escape the run-rule as the Scarlet and Black closed a 17-run victory.

Van der Lelie earned the win while Colton Coca (1-1) took the loss as A-State records their largest margin of victory in a game since downing ULM 25-4 in April 2023.

GAME TWO

Cail opened the second game with an RBI-knock to give the Red Wolves an early 1-0 advantage.

Two innings later, Kolten Poorman tied the game for the Panthers with an RBI-double and put two runners in scoring position. However, Collin Maloney was able to force the final out of the frame to keep the score at 1-1.

Tollett put A-State back in front with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left centerfield, allowing Grier to score uncontested.

The Panthers tied the game when Dylan Drumke fired a grounder through the gap and into left field for an RBI-single. With the bases loaded and one out on the board, Cole Gober put EIU ahead with a grand slam to left field, making the score 6-2.

Cade Tucker cut the deficit to three with a leadoff solo-home run over the centerfield wall, marking the First Baseman’s third consecutive game with a home run. The last A-State player to achieve the feat was Brandon Hager, who homered in three-straight games during the 2022 campaign.

A-State was unable cut into the deficit any further as Eastern Illinois split the doubleheader with the Red Wolves. Chaney Trout (1-1) earned the win while Bryce Schares (0-1) took the loss as both teams look to claim the series on Sunday afternoon.