Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Sports

Eastern sophomore pitcher Josh Mueller pitches against Tennessee Tech on Sunday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. Mueller was the victor in game one as his offense provided 25 runs of support. (Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

In the first game of its doubleheader against Tennessee Tech, the Eastern baseball team's offense powered out 25 runs.

In the second game, the Panthers could have done with just one.

The Panthers rolled to a sweep Sunday afternoon at Coaches Stadium, winning the first game 25-5 before winning a 2-0 contest in the final behind a dominant performance from sophomore right-hander Mike Recchia.

The Panthers (17-5, 5-0 Ohio Valley Conference) are on a seven-game winning steak, and they are one of two teams in the league that has not lost a conference game.

In the first game, everyone contributed as the Panthers took advantage of 10 walks and seven Golden Eagle errors. They jumped all over Tennessee Tech starter, tagging sophomore right-hander A.J. Kirby-Jones (1-2) for nine earned runs, 11 total, in just 1 1/3 inning.

Senior shortstop Jordan Kreke had a career game, going 5-for-6 with two home runs and eight RBIs. Junior designated hitter Richie Derbak tied a career-high with five hits, finishing 5-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs.

Eastern's 5-6-7 hitters of Kreke, Derbak and freshman right fielder Zach Borenstein combined to drive in 16 runs.

"The wind was blowing the other way, and they were throwing the ball outside so you just have to go with the ball, and coach told me to do that, and that's what I was able to do," Derbak said. "Overall, the team really got on a roll, and it just snowballed from there. It was great."

While the offense was the story of the first game, it was the exact opposite in game two as Recchia (4-0) had Tech hitters off-balance throughout the game, posting a two-hit shutout and coming within four outs of a no-hitter.

He finished with nine strikeouts and just two hits against the Golden Eagles (11-10, 0-5).

"We kind of lost our edge a little bit, game two was very hard to play, and we need to work on that," Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. "It's nice knowing you have Mike Recchia and (assistant coach Skylar Meade) made a pretty good decision to go with him. It's an easy decision, but we went with our two guys who could give us good W's on a cold day."

Recchia said his breaking pitches were what was working best for him in the win.

"My curveball, I only threw a little bit today, but that was working," he said. "My slider, I think was the most effective. It was my out pitch today. Everything felt good."

The shutout was the first by the Panthers since May 2006 in a win against Morehead State.

Sophomore right-hander Josh Mueller (4-0) was the benefactor of the scoring onslaught in the first game. He went six innings and gave up three hits. He struck out eight and walked three.

The Panthers were aided by a strong wind blowing out to left field in the first game, belting five home runs, including three in one inning. Freshman catcher Gerik Wallsten and Borenstein had one each to go along with Derbak's shot and Kreke's two.

The Panthers hit the road again Tuesday as they travel to St. Louis to take on the Billikins at 3 p.m.

They return home Wednesday at 3 p.m. to take on Chicago State at Coaches Stadium.


Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.