Panthers swept by Jacksonville State

Bob Reynolds, Sports Editor

Jacksonville State won the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, 4-2, to complete the three-game sweep of the Eastern baseball team.

Gamecock junior Elliot McCummings doubled home senior Ryan Sebra in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 3-2 lead..

Jacksonville State added another run in the eighth when Gamecock freshman catcher Hayden White singled home junior Chase Silvani, who pinch ran for McCummings.

White finished the game going 2-for-4 with one run batted in.

Gamecock Freshman Jake Walsh got the start in the final game of the series going six innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

The Panthers got to Walsh early as redshirt junior Demetre Taylor tripled home senior Brant Valach to give Eastern a 1-0 lead.

Taylor finished the game 2-for-3 with one RBI and one walk.

Jacksonville State freshman Clayton Daniel scored on an error in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one.

The Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth as Jason Scholl singled home Valach.

Sebra tied the game for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the sixth on a homerun to left center field.

Panther junior pitcher Jake Johansmeier took the loss by going seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits.

Junior pitcher Graham Officer got the win for Jacksonville State after he came on in relief. He pitched two innings and allowed no runs and no hits.

Gamecock senior pitcher Travis Stout got his fifth save of the season after he closed it out in the ninth inning.

In the first game of the doubleheader Saturday, the Panthers fell short, 5-4, after a late rally in the ninth inning.

Taylor singled home two runs in the ninth inning, but after threatening to tie or take the lead, Stout was able to work out of the jam getting three straight outs.

The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Panther starting senior pitcher Garrison Stenger.

Serba hit a two-run double. He was 2-for-4 in the game.

Freshman Cale Henneman cut the lead in half for the Panthers after he hit an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning.

Gamecock sophomore Josh Bobo gave Jacksonville State a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth after he scored on a double steal.

Bobo added a solo homerun in the eighth. He went 2-fo-2 on the day.

Senior Garrison Stenger started the game for the Panthers. He pitched three innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out five.

Freshman pitcher Ben Hughes finished the game for Eastern pitching five innings allowing six hits on two runs.

In Friday’s game, the Panthers were defeated by Jacksonville State 6-4.

Red-shirt junior pitcher Matt Wivinis got the start for the Panthers. He pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing five runs on nine hits and took the loss.

The Gamecocks took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth after White doubled to center field, scoring sophomore Peyton Williams.

Taylor tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI single that scored Henneman. Taylor finished Friday’s game going 3-for-5 on the day with two RBI’s.

The Panthers fell to 0-17 on the season and will host Southern Illinois-Carbondale at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Bob Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].