Luke Bushur walked three consecutive Illinois State batters with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, leading to a six-run rally, prompting a 9-4 loss for Eastern Tuesday night in Normal.

The Panthers’ road defeat was their fourth in a row, dropping Eastern to 7-21 this season, as Illinois State improved to 18-8 with its third straight home win to begin the year.

Following Bushuer’s walks, which gave the Redbirds a 3-1 lead, Paul DeJong hit a two-run double to left field, driving in Sean Beesley and Dennis Colón.

But the damage was not done, as with still two outs in the inning, Eastern Marshawn Taylor committed an error, allowing the sixth run to score in the second inning, as Mike Hollenbeck reached on base, while Daniel Dwryer crossed home plate.

Freshman Jake Haberer started for Eastern and was charged with three earned runs, pitching into the second inning, but not recording an out, as he took the loss and fell to 0-2 in the season.

Eastern coach Jim Schmitz said Haberer was not as effective as he needed to be at Duffy Bass Field.

“Jake Haberer was not sharp and we dug ourselves in a hole,” Schmitz said.

As a whole, Eastern’s pitching staff walked 11 batters, with Haberer walking four in his one inning of work.

Eastern began the evening, jumping out to a 1-0 lead after red-shirt sophomore Demetre Taylor drove in his team-leading 30th RBI of the season, as he drove a single to center field, which chased Caleb Howell in from second base.

Illinois State added to its lead scoring a run in the sixth inning and two more in the bottom of the eighth inning.

DeJong led the Redbirds’ offense, driving in three RBIs, finishing the night 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.

Eastern was able to get within four runs of the Redbirds, as Marshawn Taylor capped off a two-run eighth inning with an RBI-single to right field, which made it a 7-3 game.

The Redbirds then responded with RBI-singles from Dwyer and Jack Czeszewski to go ahead 9-3 entering the ninth inning.

Howell scored his second run of the game, after Adam Casson singled in the ninth inning, but the Panthers ended up leaving two runners on base.

“We had chances to score early and did not get big hits,” Schmitz said.

Eastern left 11 runners stranded on base.

In the top of the second inning, freshman Frankie Perrone hit a triple to right-center field to leadoff the inning. He was not driven in, after Montana Timmons struck out swinging, John Devito grounded out back to the pitcher, who was able to hold Perrone at third base.

Marshawn Taylor grounded out to second base, as Illinois State pitcher Will Headean escaped with no runs allowed.

Chase Thurston pitched four innings for Eastern and allowed one run, but recorded five strikeouts and allowed two hits.

Headean evened his record to 1-1, following a six-inning outing, in which he gave up one unearned run on four hits.

Eastern will play a three-game series against Murray State, starting at 3 p.m. Friday in Murray, Ky.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].