Live Stats | Feb. 28 EIU-Butler Box

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois baseball closes out its midweek schedule and ends its unexpected nine-day layoff Tuesday afternoon with a matinee at Butler.

 

First pitch in Indianapolis is slated for 2 p.m. (CDT).

 

The Panthers (34-10) have not played since sweeping a doubleheader at Southeast Missouri on May 2. The finale of that series as well as the entire three-game set at Austin Peay this past weekend were all canceled by a combination of rain showers and field conditions.

 

Dating back to April 27, Eastern has only been able to play three times. The unusual dormant stretch comes on the heels of a 10-game homestand that saw EIU play six games from April 21-26.

 

“It seems like rain has followed us,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “There have been times where we've been on the road and it has beautiful at home. I looked across the country and everyone is about four games under [schedule]. We're obviously up to eight. We've never had an entire weekend canceled before. It was a bad situation for us not to play.”

 

Eastern defeated Butler (11-36), 7-6, on a walk-off single from Curt Restko Feb. 28. That game was played on a cold, blustery day in Evansville, Ind. The Tuesday afternoon forecast for Indianapolis calls for temperatures in the high-60s and clear skies.

 

Tyler Kehrer has not pitched since throwing a one-hitter against SIU Edwardsville on April 26 in the homestand finale. He was scheduled to start the finale of the both the SEMO and APSU series. Schmitz said Kehrer will start Tuesday at Butler and most likely pitch three innings. In the first meeting with Butler, Kehrer struck out 12 of the 24 batters he faced through five innings. However, he also issued six walks.

 

“We're excited to play a game; it's been nine days that we haven't played,” Schmitz said. “We're scrimmaging today with [Josh] Mueller and [Mike] Recchia pitching. But Tyler Kehrer, who has missed two starts now, is going to get three innings tomorrow. It's going to be good weather. Hopefully we get some of the rust off, but just get a chance to play again. We're going to throw five or six guys, which we don't like to do, but give guys that inning to get on the mound in a game. We need to get them ready for the final series with Eastern Kentucky, who is playing really well right now.”

 

Thanks to some help around the Ohio Valley Conference this past weekend, the Panthers clinched the regular-season league title. Eastern be the top seed in the six-team OVC Tournament and open play in the 6:30 p.m. night game Thursday, May 21.

 

But first EIU looks to close out the regular season on a high note and strengthen its postseason résumé. The Panthers host EKU this weekend in a Friday-Saturday series. The Colonels are one of the five teams battling for the final three spots in the tournament field. EIU will honor its eight seniors prior to Saturday's regular-season finale.

The Panthers have compiled a 10-3 record in midweek action. Zach Skidmore has led the way with nine home runs and 24 RBIs. His 11-game hitting streak in midweek games ended against Missouri on April 28.

More Info: Contact Ben Turner, Asst. SID