CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — Kyree Alexander launched two home runs and drove in four runs Friday, powering the Eastern Illinois Panthers to an 11-4 victory over the Bellarmine Knights in non-conference baseball at Coaches Stadium at Monier Field.

The offensive outburst, which included 13 hits, provided more than enough support for Panthers starter Tyler Conklin, who earned the win after allowing four runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out two. The victory improved Eastern Illinois to 5-6 overall, while Bellarmine fell to 2-10.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the bottom of the third inning. Bellarmine had built a 4-0 lead behind a first-inning solo home run from AJ Swader and a two-run second inning highlighted by Jake Bell’s steal of home on a throwing error. Luke Scales added a solo homer in the top of the third to extend the Knights’ lead to 4-1.

Eastern Illinois began chipping away in the second, scoring once on a wild pitch, and added another in the third on a Bellarmine error to cut the deficit to 4-2. With two outs and the bases loaded in the third, Panthers right fielder Ethan Rossi stepped in against Bellarmine reliever Austin Egan. Rossi demolished a pitch to left field for a grand slam, a four-run blast that instantly erased the Knights’ advantage and gave Eastern Illinois a 6-4 lead it would not relinquish.

The Panthers continued to pour it on. In the fourth inning, following a triple by Quade Peters, Alexander connected for his first home run of the day, a three-run shot to left field that stretched the lead to 9-4. Designated hitter Chris Worcester added a solo homer in the fifth, and Alexander capped his standout day with a solo blast in the sixth inning to provide the final margin.

Alexander, who entered the game in a 3-for-10 slump over his previous four contests, finished 3 for 5 with the two homers and four RBIs. Worcester also had three hits, going 3 for 3 with a homer, an RBI and three runs scored. Rossi’s grand slam accounted for his only hit but was the game’s biggest swing.

For Bellarmine, which managed seven hits, Scales went 2 for 4 with a home run. The Knights’ bullpen found some success late as relievers Drew Jennings and Nikau Heeney combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Jennings struck out one over 1 2/3 frames.

Eastern Illinois reliever Mac Zawistoski closed the game with 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief to seal the win.

The victory defied a pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 4-2 Eastern Illinois win. The Panthers’ ELO rating gave them a 71.8% probability to win.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday.