Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Sports

Eastern sophomore pitcher Mike Recchia follows through after throwing a pitch during game two of the Panthers' doubleheader against Tennessee Tech Sunday at Coaches Stadium. The Panthers play midweek games against Saint Louis and Chicago State this week, starting with the Billikens at 3 p.m. today in St. Louis. (Audrey Sawyer / The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern baseball team faces two familiar foes this week, as they will travel to Saint Louis at 3 p.m. today to take on the Billikens. They host Chicago State at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Coaches Stadium.

The Panthers lost to Saint Louis 5-4 Feb. 27, and beat Chicago State 16-1 Wednesday.

The loss to Saint Louis came in walk-off fashion in the opener of the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic in Evansville, Ind. With the game tied at four in the bottom of the ninth inning, Eastern junior closer Richie Derbak hit a batter and allowed back-to-back singles to bring home the winning run.

"We gave that game away," Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. "We talk about not giving away games and that game we gave away."

Saint Louis enters Tuesday's contest with a 12-11 record, - 7-4 at home - and are 0-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. They are hitting .302 as a team and are led by senior shortstop Ryan Bennett, who is hitting .418 and is 8-for-9 in stolen bases at the leadoff spot.

Schmitz sees midweek games as preparation for their weekend games, which usually consist of Ohio Valley Conference competition.

He uses games like these to get work in for players who do not normally see a lot of action over the weekend.

The Panthers are 4-2 this year in midweek games.

"I think why we play well on weekends is because we talk about playing well in midweek," he said. "It's important to be sharp."

Junior southpaw Tyler Kehrer gets the nod to start against the Billikens. Kehrer is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA on the season. He was scheduled to pitch in last weekend's series against Tennessee Tech, but his start was pushed back due to Saturday's weather-related cancellations.

Kehrer earned a no decision in his last start, a 6-4 Eastern victory March 21 against Morehead State. He went 5 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out and walking four batters.

Junior right-hander Bryant Cotton will oppose Kehrer for the Billikens. Cotton is 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA on the season in seven appearances, including four starts.

Wednesday's home game against Chicago State is a rematch of the Panthers' 16-1 drubbing of the Cougars last Wednesday in Chicago. The Cougars are 2-22 on the season and face Indiana Tuesday in Bloomington, Ind., before traveling to Eastern for Wednesday's game.

Red-shirt freshman right-hander Mike Martin will get the start against the Cougars. He is 2-0 with a 7.45 ERA this season in eight appearances this season, including three starts.


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

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