Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Sports

Senior infielder Jordan Tokarz throws the ball to the pitcher during the game against Saint Louis Tuesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. (Audrey Sawyer / The Daily Eastern News)

Senior second baseman Jordan Tokarz hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, breaking a six-all tie and leading the Eastern baseball team to a 10-6 victory against Saint Louis Tuesday at Coaches Stadium.

Tokarz drove a 3-1 offering from Billikens senior right-hander Chaz Salembier (2-2) over the fence in centerfield, scoring senior left fielder Curt Restko and freshman right fielder Zach Borenstein, who had both singled.

"He was throwing me all fastballs," said Tokarz, who leads the team with 12 long balls. "He threw me pretty much the same pitch 3-1 as he did 2-0, so I was looking for the same pitch and I got a good one to hit and it carried out of here."

The home run gave the Panthers (28-8) the win on a back-and-forth day that saw the lead change hands six times. Nine of the Panthers' 10 runs came off home runs, the only exception being an RBI single by junior first baseman Alex Gee in the bottom of the eighth following Tokarz's home run and a single by senior third baseman Zach Skidmore.

The win snapped Eastern's first losing streak of the season at two games.

Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said he was pleased with what his team brought after a lackluster weekend against Jacksonville State.

"We seemed a little tired this weekend," he said. "This is what I call a pick-me-up game. We just picked each other up. This is what we did early on, and I think we kind of went back and referred to that."

The Panthers hit six home runs in the game. Along with Tokarz, they got two home runs apiece from Skidmore and senior shortstop Jordan Kreke. Borenstein hit the team's other home run.

Junior right-hander Richie Derbak picked up the win for Eastern to improve to 5-2 on the season. He finished the game with 2 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and four hits.

Senior right-hander Brian Morrell started for the Panthers and went five innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits.

He walked three and struck out a career-high eight Saint Louis batters.

The win gives the Panthers a season-series victory against the Billikens (20-2).

Saint Louis beat the Panthers 5-4 on Feb. 27 in Evansville, Ind., at the Evansville Tournament, and the Panthers took a 12-8 decision March 31 in St. Louis.

Eastern continues its home stretch today at 3 p.m. against Bradley.

The Braves will most likely throw freshman right-hander Justin Ziegler against the Panthers.

Eastern will counter with sophomore right-hander Matt Miller.

The Braves (18-19) are coming off a 3-2 loss in 10 innings against Evansville in Peoria. The Braves also lost the series against Evansville.

After today's game, the Panthers will play Division III Illinois College at 3 p.m. Thursday at Coaches Stadium.


Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

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