Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- The Bruins dropped the series opener against Eastern Illinois 5-3 at Rose Park on Friday.
Starting on the mound for the Bruins Dan Ludwig (Naperville, Ill.). Ludwig pitched 7.2 innings and gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and struck out two.
Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) went 2 for 4 at the plate with doubled and a single. He helped tie up the game in the sixth.
Eastern Illinois came to the plate hot in the second inning plating three runs off a single, and two home runs. The Bruins returned with two runs in the second to close the gap. Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) led the inning and drew a walk to reach base. Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed and doubled to left center to score Diamond. Tyler Fullerton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) provided with a two out single to center field to plate Ferguson.
The Bruins were held to two scoreless innings before plating another run in the 6th. Fullerton led off the inning with a double through the left side. Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.) followed with a single to left field. With runners now on the corners, Walsh hit a ground rule double down the left line that bounced out of play, scoring Fullerton and tying the game at 3 apiece.
Both teams were held to two scoreless innings before the Panthers rallied at the plate scoring two more runs in the top of the ninth.
The Bruins overall score drops to 20-16 and 9-6 in conference.
The Bruins and Panthers return to Rose Park tomorrow at 1pm to face for game two of the three game series.
Tomorrow's game will be once again covered on the OVC Digital Network and live stats will be available.
