JONESBORO, Ark. (2/24/25) – Arkansas State baseball (2-5, 0-0 SBC) dropped the first matchup of a doubleheader against Eastern Illinois (3-3, 0-0 OVC) 8-4, but responded with a 4-0 shutout victory in the second on Monday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium-Slayton Family Field.
GAME 1
Jack Nelson made his second start of the campaign, surrendering two runs (both earned) on three hits while striking out two batters over 4.2 innings pitched. Five pitchers took the mound for A-State, combining for eight runs (six earned), six hits, and six strikeouts.
Cason Tollett and
Kaden Amundson led the bats with three hits apiece while six Red Wolves recorded a hit and four notched an RBI.
The Scarlet and Black made the first strike in the second inning, when
Raul Torres brought in
Drake Anderson on a sacrifice bunt.
Kohle Kerin advanced to second on the play and scored in the next at-bat when Amundson fired an RBI-single to right field and made the score 2-0.
Eastern Illinois responded with a leadoff home run in the top of the third, but the tying run would be stranded at third base as the lead held at one. The Panthers eventually scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Tollett broke the stalemate with an RBI-single in the bottom frame.
The lead exchanged hands in the top of the sixth when Eastern Illinois scored on a bunt and added another following a throwing error. Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh, the Red Wolves surrendered four runs on two hits and an error to fall behind 8-3 going into the final stretch.
Hunter Ryan brought in a run on a groundout to shortstop, but that would be the last for the Scarlet and Black. Anthony Solis (2-0) earned the win and Dalton Boruff claimed the save while
Cooper Garrison (0-1) took the loss as both teams prepared for the second matchup.
GAME 2
Jack Hibbard (1-0) made his second career start in the series finale, allowing three hits while striking out five over nine scoreless innings pitched. The freshman became the first Red Wolf to throw a complete shutout since Chandler Hawkins threw seven scoreless innings versus Troy on May 23, 2014.
At the plate, nine Red Wolves combined for nine hits and four recorded an RBI against the Panthers.
After both sides combined for one hit over the first two innings, A-State broke through with a three-run third inning beginning with an RBI-single from
Wil French. Back-to-back bunts from Tollett and
J.C. Cabuyaban loaded the bases before
Cross Jumper and
Daedrick Cail batted in two runs on a sacrifice fly and RBI-groundout.
Amundson added another run in the bottom of the fourth, using a sacrifice bunt to bring in Torres and make the score 4-0.
Eastern Illinois had one runner reach base beyond that point, allowing the Scarlet and Black to salvage the series finale and split the twin bill. Hibbard earned the win while Tyler Kapraun (0-1) took the loss.
NEXT UP
A-State is set to take on Southern Illinois in a midweek matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3:00 p.m. on Slayton Family Field at Tomlinson Stadium. Listeners can find the game on 95.3 The Ticket Radio Network, with coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the A-State baseball program, follow @AStateBaseball on Twitter/X and @astatebaseball on Instagram, while also liking Arkansas State Baseball on Facebook.
