EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball secured its first Ohio Valley Conference series win of the year with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Eastern Illinois Friday at Simmons Complex.
SIUE has won the first two games in the series to improve to 18-11 overall and 4-4 in OVC play. Eastern Illinois is 15-11 overall and 1-4 in the OVC.
"We had a great atmosphere out here at the ballpark tonight and got a fun win," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.
EIU built a 4-1 lead over the first three innings against SIUE starter Jake Bockenstedt who committed two run-scoring balks and made two errant pickoff throws to first base. The senior settled down and allowed just one hit over his final four innings while striking out six. He worked seven innings, allowing the four runs, three of them earned, on four hits. He struck out seven total and improved to 4-1.
"What a gritty performance by Bockenstedt," Lyons said. "The first three innings were probably the ugliest outing of his career. He settled in and was able to find a way to keep them at bay for seven innings. That gave us an opportunity."
Brady Bunten drove home Brennan Orf in the first inning to tie the score at 1-1. But EIU starter Ky Hampton kept the Cougars off the board again until the sixth inning.
A lead-off hit by Avery Owusu-Asiedu and three consecutive one-out hits by Ole Arntson, Josh Ohl and John Stallcup tied the game at 4-4.
"We were pretty baffled by Hampton for the early stretch of the game," said Lyons. "We were then able to get a couple of big base hits and they came in bunches, and we were able to tie the score."
Orf reached on an infield hit to start the seventh inning against Eastern reliever Colton Coca. Owusu-Asiedu singled to left to put the Cougars on top.
"I am proud of the guys for the way they kept grinding away," Lyons added.
SIUE relievers Jacob Kampf and Hayden Cooper finished the game on the mound with a scoreless inning each. Cooper struck out the final two hitters with a runner on third base to earn his second save of the year.
"With Jacob Kampf and then Cooper on for the second night in a row closing it out for us, the two guys out of the pen did a great job," Lyons said.
Stallcup led the way with three hits while Orf and Owusu-Asiedu each had two hits. The Cougars outhit the Panthers 11-6.
There's been some intensity the last two games. You're getting into the heart of OVC play and people are starting to see where they're at in the standings. The guys understand how important it is to play well at home especially in league play.
SIUE will look for its first OVC series sweep of the year Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Simmons Complex.
