The Eastern baseball team rallied from four runs down in the eighth inning to get within a run of Southeast Missouri, but ultimately fell short, losing 7-5 Thursday night in Cape Giradeau, Mo.

The Panthers dropped to 5-11 in the Ohio Valley Conference, as their losing streak extended to three, while Southeast Missouri went to 16-3 in conference play, still pacing the league at the top of the standings.

Following a three-run top of the eighth inning for Eastern, the Redhawks scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to go ahead 7-5. The Panthers had the tying run at the plate twice in the top of the ninth inning, as Brant Valach walked with one out.

Eastern’s Jason Scholl and Cameron Berra then proceeded to fly out to left and center field, respectively to end the game.

Eastern left 10 runners on base against the Redhawks’ pitching staff.

After falling behind 6-2 after the fifth inning, Eastern mounted a comeback in the eighth inning.

With runners at second and third, Eastern’s Frankie Perrone hit a double to center, as he raced into second base, Scholl scored and Berra advanced to third base.

Eastern coach Jim Schmitz then executed a series of pinch-hit substitutions, ending with Montana Timmons walking to load the bases.

Dane Sauer then had an infield single, which the Panthers within 6-4 of Southeast Missouri.

Caleb Howell finished the rally, reaching on a fielder’s choice ground ball, which scored Perrone.

Mitch Gasbarro then left runners at the corner, as he flied out to center field.

Matt Borens started for Eastern and was immediately met with a stressful first inning.

After recording a groundout to start the game, Borens allowed a single to Dalton Hewitt and walked Matt Tellor.

With runners at first and second base, Derek Gibson dropped a bunt and Eastern catcher John Devito threw it away, allowing Gibson to reach safely at first base and more importantly letting Hewitt score.

The Redhawks added two more unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, capped off by a single to left field from Scott Mitchell that drove in Gibson.

Eastern scored two runs in the third inning, as Andy Lennington’s error at third base let Demetre Taylor and Gasbarro score on the same play.

But like in the eighth inning, when Eastern came within one run, Southeast Missouri responded, as Tellor hit a home run down the right-field line, giving the Redhawks a 4-2 lead. They would tack on two more in the fifth, as Lennington hit a double that drove in Tellor to cap off the two-run inning for the Redhawks.

Borens was charged with four earned runs, as he allowed all seven to Southeast Missouri. The Eastern righty dropped to 1-4 this season.

The Panthers scored their final three runs off of the Southeast Missouri bullpen, as Alex Winkleman improved to 3-2 for the Redhawks, following his seven-inning outing, in which he gave up two runs on five hits.

The left-handed pitcher handcuffed the Eastern offense, striking eight, while walking two during his seven innings of work.

Another lefty, in Christian Hull, closed the game out for the Redhawks, as he recorded his fourth save of the season, getting the last five outs of the game.

The series continues with game two starting at 5 p.m. Friday and then ending with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Capaha Field.

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