Another late inning victory slipped away from the Billiken
baseball team as they fell to Eastern Illinois University 16-15,
yesterday afternoon. The Billikens tied the score at 15 in the top
of the ninth only to feel the game fall through their grasp as the
Panthers plated a run early in the final inning.

The Billikens had a tremendous output of scoring, led by senior
first baseman Drew Eder, who drove in five runs, including two home
runs on the day. Eder’s classmate, centerfielder Kyle Wort
continued his recent tear, driving in three runs on two hits, in
five at bats.

The potentency of the offense was undeniable with every starter
collecting at least one hit.

The Billiken offense was not the problem against Eastern
Illinois, as it had been during a weekend series with Houston. In
one night, the Billikens plated 15 runs against the Panthers
compared to 10 runs in the three-game series with the Houston
Cougars. The pitching let down again, as has been the case for most
of the season.

Against Houston, the Billikens jumped out to an eight-run lead
entering the bottom half of the third inning. Then the Panthers
exploded. Eastern Illinois brought home nine runs in their half of
the inning off Billiken pitchers Kris Weber and Adam Schroeder. Pat
Burtch and Ryan Sweet put forth good relief pitching efforts but to
no avail.

The two teams exchanged runs and leads, until the Panthers
collected three in the bottom of the eighth. The Billikens matched
that in the top of the ninth hoping senior Dave Guntorious would
hold on for extra innings. Then all hopes were squashed when Ryan
Campbell’s single to right scored the winning run.

As Conference USA’s pitcher of the week from April 12-18,
Guntorious could not hold the lead. Guntorious garnered the honors
by earning a save last week against Southeast Missouri State
University and he had a complete game victory in the Billikens’
only win over the Cougars.

The Billikens were looking to rebound against Eastern Illinois
,after dropping two of three games that were played in the Billiken
Sports Center over the weekend. After Friday’s Guntorious-led 4-3
victory, the weekend looked hopeful. But late-run rallies and big
innings allowed the Cougars to take the final two games of the
series.

On tap for the Billikens is a return to C-USA play. The
Billikens will travel to Fort Worth, Texas for a three game series
against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. TCU is fresh
off a victory over the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners, in Norman,
Okla.

The Horned Frogs, the cream of the C-USA crop, will propose a
tough challenge for the Billikens. They have played good baseball
on their way to a 23-15 record.

TCU is a solid squad up and down, who went deep during last
year’s College World Series.

Today’s game in Charleston, Ill. is the first of an eight game
road trip for the Billiken baseball team.

They will return home on April 30, for a three game weekend
series with the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

Texas Road Trip

Who: Texas Christian University Horned Frogs
When: All Weekend
Where: Fort Worth, Texas