Fisher throws complete game in Panthers’ series win

Bob Reynolds, Sports Editor

Eastern freshman starting pitcher Andy Fisher threw a complete game in the second game of a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky Sunday.

The Panthers won the game 13-5, behind 13 hits. Every Panther batter contributed a hit in the game.

Fisher threw the first complete game of his career and the first complete game by a Panther pitcher this season.

Fisher pitched seven innings and let up five runs. He struck out four batters and walked only two guys.

Eastern coach Jimmy Schmitz said with the wind the way it was, Fisher was able to keep his sinker down in the zone most of the day Sunday.

“He made good pitches,” he said. “He keeps it down enough to where he gives us a chance, that was really good.”

Schmitz expects to keep Fisher in the starting rotation for weekend series along with junior Jake Johansmeier and red-shirt junior Matt Wivinis.

The win today was the first win for Fisher on the season. He is now 1-3 overall in 19 appearances with most of those appearances coming in relief.

Eastern Kentucky was able to tag Fisher for two runs in the top of the first inning after junior Mandy Alvarez hit a two-run home run to right center field, scoring junior Kyle Nowlin.

Eastern answered quickly in the bottom of the first inning. Senior outfielder Caleb Howell singled to center field, which scored freshman second baseman Cale Hennemann to cut the lead to 2-1 for Eastern Kentucky.

Howell eventually scored on a passed ball to tie the game at two.

The Panthers would break out four runs in the bottom of the second.

Senior first baseman Adam Casson opened the scoring in the second inning, hitting a solo home run to right field.

Casson was 1-for-4 with two runs batted in, in game two of the doubleheader and scored a run.

After freshman catcher Hunter Morris doubled, Howell singled him home to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the second.

Red-shirt junior Demetre Taylor singled up the middle, which scored third basemen Brant Valach and Howell to give the Panthers a 6-3 lead heading into the third.

After Eastern Kentucky scored two more in the top of the fourth, the Panthers would tack on five runs in the bottom half of that inning.

Taylor drove in Hennemann with a single to left field. Freshman designated hitter Bobby Wenthe had an RBI-groundout, which scored Howell.

Hunter Morris had a two-run single to open the game up for the Panthers. Junior Mitch Gasbarro and Wenthe scored on the Morris single.

Wenthe would then hit a two-run home run to left center field to give the Panthers a 13-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

The Panthers defeated Eastern Kentucky in game one of the series, 9-5, and then lost game two of the series Sunday, 12-4.

This is the second-straight series the Panthers have won. Last week, Eastern defeated Belmont two out of three games.

Eastern will host a mid-week game against St. Louis at 3 p.m. Tuesday before heading to Morehead State Friday.

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