CHARLESTON, Ill. – SIUE baseball fell in its final midweek matchup of the 2021 regular season on Monday afternoon, dropping a 5-4 decision in a nonconference contest at Eastern Illinois.

"We had a couple opportunities to get together a big inning," said SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons following the game. "But, we weren't able to execute with runners in scoring position."

The Panthers got to SIUE starter Alec Kubik in the first inning, scoring three runs on five hits. All three runs came with two outs in the inning.

"EIU jumped out on us early and they did what they needed to do to hold on," added Lyons.

Connor Kiffer led off the fourth with a home run to left, his seventh of the year. The long ball was the 53rd of the season for SIUE, equaling SIUE record for home runs in a season in the Division I era (2009-present).

In the fifth inning, Ethan Copeland walked with the bases loaded to pull SIUE within a run at 3-2. The Cougars loaded the bases on singles by Tyler Bastunas, Brennan Orf and Brett Johnson.

Doyle singled through the left side to start the inning, before advancing to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout. He scored on a wild pitch to push EIU's lead to 4-2.

The Cougars pulled within a run again at 4-3 when Josh Ohl lined a pinch hit, RBI-double to left in the seventh inning.

The Panthers would score once more in the home half of the eighth inning with a single through the left side to expand the EIU lead to 5-3. SIUE would close the gap to one for a final time, as the EIU catcher overthrew his second baseman to score Brett Johnson on a throwing error.

SIUE drops to 23-24 overall heading into the final weekend series of the 2021 season, in which the Cougars will head to Cookeville, Tennessee, for a three-game tilt at Tennessee Tech. Sitting at 13-14 in Ohio Valley Conference play, the Cougars are one game behind Jacksonville State and Austin Peay for the fourth and final spot in the OVC Baseball Championship. First pitch in the series' opening contest is scheduled for Friday, May 20 at 6 p.m.

"We head into the final weekend with an opportunity to make the OVC Tournament," said Lyons. "That's been our goal all year."