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EIU Game Notes  |  Watch Live - OVC Digital Network  |

Eastern Illinois (5-26, 2-14 OVC) at Belmont (20-15, 9-5 OVC)

Friday - April 17 at 5 p.m.   -   Live Stats
Saturday - April 18 at 1 p.m.  -  Live Stats
Sunday - April 19 at 1 p.m.  -  Live Stats

Rose Park (500)  *  Nashville, Tenn. 

On Deck... April 21 at Illinois

EIU Rotation
Friday: Andy Fisher (LHP, 6-1, 150, Fr)  (0-3, 17G, 7.77 ERA, 12 K)
Saturday: Jake Johansmeier (RHP, 6-3, 170, Jr)  (0-4, 11G, 7.27 ERA, 26K)
Sunday: Matt Wivinis (RHP, 6-0, 190, R-Jr)  (1-6, 8G, 6.35 ERA, 25K)

• Caleb Howell collected a hit in the second inning on Wednesday as the senior became the Panthers career hits leader with No. 261.  The previous record was set by Ryan Campbell (2004-07).  Howell leads the Panthers with a .355 batting average.

• Pitcher Chase Thurston was solid last week for the Panthers as he picked up both a save and a win in three appearances out of the bullpen.  Last Wednesday he closed out the win over Indiana State for the save.  He worked three innings of relief on Saturday picking up the win against Southeast Missouri.  Thurston added two scoreless innings this week against Benedictine as he has now pitched eight straight scoreless innings in relief.

• Brant Valach moved into the EIU career top ten for RBI on Wednesday against Illinois College driving home seven runs.  Valach is hitting .339 this season with 22 RBI as he has already joined the EIU career top ten for hits and doubles this year.

• Demetre Taylor extended his hitting streak to ten straight games on Tuesday, the second longest streak of the year.  Taylor was 2-for-3 hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning.  For the season he leads the Panthers with 24 RBI while hitting .333.

• Freshman Andy Fisher was solid in relief on Sunday against Southeast Missouri as he worked 5 1/3 innings allowing just two hits.  It was Fisher's longest relief appearance this season, his previous high was 3 2/3 at Arkansas.  Fisher leads the team with 17 appearances this season which is tied for third most in the Ohio Valley Conference.

• Eastern Illinois added three double plays to its season total on Wednesday as the Panthers have now turned at least one double play in 12 of their last 13 games.  The lone game in that streak without a double play was the 5-4 win over Indiana State.

• Freshman Bobby Wenthe was 3-for-4 in the designated hitter spot on Tuesday driving home two runs.  Wenthe added to that total on Wednesday going 2-for-3 as he is now hitting .355 for the season with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.

• Eastern Illinois is playing its 109th season of intercollegiate baseball as the Panthers head to Central Arkansas this weekend.  EIU has an all-time record of 1,708 wins and 1,466 losses.  Head coach Jimmy Schmitz is in his 21st season as the Panthers skipper.  Schmitz is the Panthers career leader in wins with 522.  He earned his 500th career win last season with a win over Michigan State.  His career record is 691-732-1 in 28 overall seasons. His EIU record is 525-571-1, which includes two trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and 2008.