After two rough losses to start the three-game weekend series, the Eastern baseball team bounced back in the finale for its first conference win of the season.

The Panthers allowed 40 runs combined in the first two games of the series against Murray State, but held the Racers to just three in the finale.

The highlight of the series for Murray State fans at least was a 31-11 blowout of the Panthers.

But after a historic loss like that, Eastern was able to end its 0-8 start to Ohio Valley Conference play.

Game one offered multiple chances for the Panthers to take a win, but Murray State’s offense never let up.

The Racers got out to an early lead on Eastern’s junior starter Michael McCormick by putting two runs on the scoreboard in the first inning.

Murray State went on to add another run in the third to push the lead to three, but the Panthers had an answer.

Eastern answered with two runs in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to one, and that is when the back and forth affair began.

The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning, but the Racers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

But Eastern was not able to top Murray State’s 5-4 lead as the Racers added runs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn a 9-4 victory.

Game two offered a historic blowout for the program.

Senior Matt Wivinis started on the mound for Eastern, and fell in a deep whole after just one inning.

Wivinis allowed six runs in the first, and the Racers never looked back from there.

Murray State torched Wivinis out of the game after just one inning pitched and 10 runs allowed.

But after posting 16 runs in the first two innings the Racers still were not done.

Murray State scored runs in every inning except for the fifth, and topped Eastern for a 20 run victory.

The Panthers were able to score 11 runs in the game off some solid individual performances, but that was not nearly enough.

Freshman Nick Maton, sophomore Cale Hennemann and sophomore Hunter Morris all hit solo home runs in the game.

But the MVP of the game was Murray State’s Tyler Dixon.

Dixon had a record performance as he hit four home runs for the Racers to tie a program and OVC record.

While game two offered a tough setback for Eastern, the series finale brought much more success to the program.

The Panthers fell into a 1-0 deficit after the second inning but brought home three runs in the fourth to take the lead.

Murray State was able to bring it within one in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Panthers did not allow a comeback.

Eastern added runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to earn a 9-3 victory in game three.

The Panthers improved to 1-8 in the OVC after thE victory, and 5-22 overall on the season.

Eastern does not have much time to celebrate over the win as the team travels to Champaign Tuesday for a matchup against Illinois.

The game against Illinois is the first of a home-and-home series between the Fighting Illini this season.

First pitch in that game is at 6 p.m.

Maher Kawash can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].