The Arkansas State Red Wolves evened its weekend series Saturday afternoon with an 11-3 win over the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Slayton Family Field at Tomlinson Stadium, riding four home runs to the victory.
Arkansas State struck first with a three-run second inning, using patience at the plate and productive groundouts before Joey McLaughlin III delivered an RBI single to make it 3-0. The Red Wolves added to the lead in the third when Engskov launched a solo homer.
Eastern Illinois answered with solo home runs in the fourth inning and added a run on an RBI walk, trimming the deficit to one, but Arkansas State quickly regained control. Lane Waltons two-run homer highlighted a five-run fifth inning that also included long balls from Evan Griffis, pushing the lead to 8-3.
Engskov capped his big day with a two-run homer in the seventh, and Griffis set up another run with a triple as the Red Wolves pulled away late.
Jack Nelson started on the mound for Arkansas State, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Jelle van der Lelie earned the win in relief, and Collin Maloney closed out the final three innings, facing the minimum and striking out three to seal the series-tying victory.
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