Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

Game Notes
Eastern Illinois (12-21, 4-11 OVC) vs. Butler (23-8, 4-1 Big East) 
Tuesday- April 17 @ 3 pm (CST) l Live Stats l

Eastern Illinois (12-21, 4-11 OVC) vs. Illinois State (14-17, 4-5 MVC) 
Wednesday- April 18 @ 3 pm (CST) l Live Stats l
 
The Eastern Illinois baseball team will play host to Butler (April 17) and Illinois State (April 18) in non-conference midweek action. Butler heads into Tuesdays game sitting at 23-8 (4-1 Big East), and Illinois State heads into Wednesdays game 14-17 (4-5 MVC).

Ryan Knernschield enters this week's action currently on an 11 game hitting streak. The hitting streak marks the longest hitting streak of Knernschields career as a Panther. Knernschield currently leads the EIU offense hitting .344 (21-for-61) with 24 total bases, seven RBIs, four walks, four runs, and three doubles.

Hunter Morris heads into the week leading the Panthers in RBIs. Morris currently has 29 runs batted in on the season. Last week against Southern Illinois and Belmont Morris drove in two runs.

Dougie Parks leads the Panthers in home runs for the season with eight. Parks' eight home runs currently ranks ninth in the OVC. Parks also ranks eighth in the OVC in slugging percentage with .608, eighth in double with 13, and tenth in walks with 25.

Michael Starcevich picked up his sixth save of the season on Friday against Belmont. With his sixth save of the season Starcevich now ranks second in the OVC. Starcevichs sixth save of the season moved him into fourth on the all-time EIU saves list with 11.

Jake Haberer earned his first save of the season tossing 2.2 innings of relief on Saturday against Belmont. Haberer struck out three batters and allowed two hits.

Garrett Christman leads the Butler offense so far in 2018. Christman is currently hitting .360 (36-for-100) with 46 total bases, 31 RBIs, 19 runs, 13 walks, five doubles, a triple, and a home run.

Owen Miller leads the Illinois State offense so far in 2018. Miller is currently hitting .362 (50-for-138) with 64 total bases, 30 runs, 16 RBIs, 11 walks, eight doubles, and two home runs.

EIU will go with their freshman starting pitcher Blake Malatestinic against Butler on Tuesday. The Panthers have yet to announce who will get the call against Illinois State on Wednesday.

Butler will go with their junior starting pitcher Sam Hubbe on the mound Tuesday. Hubbe enters the weekend with a record of 1-0, with 33.0 innings pitched, and an ERA of 1.64.

Illinois State has yet to announce who will be on the hill to start the game on Wednesday.

Eastern Illinois is playing in its 112th season of intercollegiate baseball. EIU has an all-time record of 1,763 and 1,568 loses.  After their midweek matches against Butler and Illinois State, the Panthers will play travel to Eastern Kentucky (April, 20-22).