Eureka Falls at Knox After Early Deficit

GALESBURG, Ill. – The Eureka baseball team fell behind early and couldn't recover Wednesday, dropping a 16-6 nonconference decision at Knox.

Knox scored eight runs over the first three innings, plating two in the first, one in the second and five in the third, to take control at 8-0.

Eureka responded in the fourth inning when Noah Company (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy) launched a solo home run, his first of the season. Andrew Sprinkle (Dorsey, Ill./Edwardsville) followed with a single, and Joshua Stanley (Huntsville, Texas/Huntsville) added a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 8-3.

Knox answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 11-3, but Eureka pushed back again in the fifth. Gabe Peters (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) and Joe Clark (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Andrew Zimmerman (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) drove in two runs with a base hit. Zimmerman later scored on a series of wild pitches, trimming the deficit to 11-6.

That would be as close as Eureka would get. Knox added one run in the fifth, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to seal the run-rule victory.

Company led Eureka at the plate, finishing 2 for 4 with a home run and one RBI. Stanley added a two-run homer, while Sprinkle went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Zimmerman drove in two runs and scored once.

Drew Danehl (Highland, Ind./Thornton Fractional South) took the loss on the mound, pitching two innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits.

UP NEXT

Eureka will close its season this weekend at Principia, beginning with a game Friday at 6:30 p.m. followed by a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m.