Tweet #LOYALandTRUE
Eastern Illinois (16-4, 3-0 OVC) at Butler (11-13, 0-0 Big East)
Indianapolis, Ind. | Bulldog Park

Game One | Friday, Apr. 1, 3:00 p.m.
Watch | Livestats

Game Two | Friday, Apr. 2, 11:00 a.m.
Watch | Livestats

Game Three | Friday, Apr. 2, 2:00 p.m.
Watch | Livestats

Game Four | Friday, Apr. 3, 12:00 p.m.
Watch | Livestats

Game Notes

ON-TAP: Eastern Illinois baseball continues their 21-game road streak as the Panthers will travel to Indianapolis, Ind. as they play a four-game series against the Bulldogs of Butler University. The Panthers have won 13 of their last 14 games this season, including five straight series victories this season. EIU sits atop the OVC standings after the first weekend of conference play after they swept the Skyhawks of UT Martin in three games. With 16 away wins this season, it puts them first in the nation in that category. EIU is also one of 15 teams not to play a home game this season.

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastern Illinois's starting pitcher Trevor Nicholson was selected to the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 National Players of the Week list after his performance against UT Martin on Friday night. The LHP threw in 7.0 innings against the Skyhawks allowing five hits, three earned runs, but still prevailed to get the win after he posted 14 strikeouts for the team. This marked the third time this season that Nicholson has thrown for more than 10 strikeouts in a game. His 14 strikeouts last game put him tied for 10th most by any pitcher this season.

He currently leads the OVC in ERA (1.19), opposing batting average (.165), strikeouts (52), wins (4), hits allowed (18), earned runs allowed (4), and is one of three pitchers in the league to not allow a homerun this season. Nicholson ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (15.43), 17th in ERA, 27th in victories with four, 37th in WHIP (0.86), and 44th in hits per nine innings (5.01).

HITTING STREAKS: Currently two Panthers have hitting streaks of 10 plus games. Lucas DiLuca leads the team in this category as he is on a 17-game hitting streak dating back to Feb. 27 against Tarleton State. During his hitting streak, DiLuca has hit .413 with 26 hits, four doubles, one homerun and 15 RBIs. He has also drawn 11 walks during that time. His .513 on-base percentage during his 17-game hitting streak ranks first on the team. Ryan Ignoffo is also on a 13-game hitting streak this season. He is hitting .414 during that span with 24 hits (leads the team), six doubles, six homeruns, and 20 RBIs (leads the team). Ignoffo is leading the team overall this season with a .438 average, 39 hits, 12 doubles, seven homeruns, and 30 RBIs.

PRESEASON PANTHERS: Eastern Illinois' Logan Eickhoff and Cameron Doherty both earned preseason All-OVC earlier this offseason. Eickhoff was chosen at the utility position while Doherty was chosen for relief pitching. Eickhoff played in 31 games making 26 starters in the outfield. He was among OVC leaders with a .435 batting average before suffering a mid-season injury. Eickhoff returned on April 30 at SIUE and finished the season hitting .423 to become 23rd player in program history to hit .400 or better during a season. He held an on-base percentage of .463 and slugging percentage of .514.  Doherty posted a 3-2 record with a team high five saves during the season. He finished the season with a 3.45 ERA in 75.2 innings of work. He was also selected as the OVC preseason pitcher of the year for his performance last season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Illinois leads the all-time series against Butler 6-3. The Panthers first played the Bulldogs back in 2009 in Evansville, Ind. when EIU defeated Butler 7-6. These two teams last played each other on May 14, 2019 when Butler came to Charleston at Coaches Stadium. The Panthers won that game 13-6. EIU is currently on a two game win streak against Butler dating back to March 19, 2019. This marks the first four-game series between the two teams.

SCOUTING REPORT: Butler have two offensive playmakers that offer different skill sets. Infielder Travis Holt is a two-time Big-South All-Conference Selection for High Point University before transferring to Butler. He is hitting .357 this season in 24 games with 35 hits, two doubles, three homeruns, 22 runs scored, and nine RBI. He also has 13 stolen bases on the season. The Bulldogs also have power-hitter Aaron Steinhart who has six homeruns and six doubles on the season. Steinhart, catcher is hitting .313 this season  with 30 hits, 13 runs scored, and 24 RBIs.

Friday's starter, Cory Bosecker, has thrown 28.0 innings this season with a 0-3 record in his six starts. This season he has a 6.43 ERA with 29 strikeouts, and has allowed 32 hits, 20 earned runs, and 13 walks. He is allowing opposing batters to hit 3.02 against him this season.

ON DECK: The Panthers will have their first home games next week as Bellarmine and St. Xavier are scheduled to play EIU for two midweek games. This first is on Tuesday, April 5 against Bellarmine hosted in Rantoul, Ill. while Coaches Stadium is under maintenance. It will be held at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex, and the time will be announced early next week. EIU will then play St. Xavier in Mattoon, Ill. at Lakeland College with a schedule start time of 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.