Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Sports

Eastern sophomore pitcher Ryan Green pitches against Chicago State Wednesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. The Panthers won 16-5 to extend their winning streak to nine games. The Panthers doled out 22 hits, and they scored in every inning except the sixth to remain undefeated at home. (Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern men's baseball team did not hit a single long ball Wednesday against Chicago State, but it did not matter.

The Panthers scored in every inning except the sixth, racking up 22 hits en route to a 16-5 victory against the Cougars at Coaches Stadium as the Panthers (19-5) have won nine straight.

"We have had some games, like against Indiana, where we had 15, 16 hits with 12 singles, so we can do more than just hit more home runs," Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. "We are getting pitches and didn't have that many bad swings today, so not real surprised because we have been swinging the bat really well."

Chicago State and Eastern traded runs in the first inning, but Eastern broke up the game in the second with five two-out runs and four straight extra base hits.

Junior left fielder Curt Restko started the hit parade with an RBI single, and freshman catcher Gerik Wallsten and senior center fielder Brett Nommensen followed with back-to-back RBI doubles. Senior second baseman Jordan Tokarz continued the extra base hit streak with an RBI, and freshman third baseman Zach Borenstein hit another RBI double to give the Panthers a 6-1 lead at the end of the second inning.

Restko said Schmitz harps on two-out base hits and the team jumped on fastballs as the inning began to snowball.

"It was kind of just one of those days where you see the ball, hit the ball," Restko said. "Jumping on the fastball and just sitting back."

The Cougars (2-24) responded with one run in the third on an RBI groundout by senior third baseman Jeremy Perez, but Eastern extended its lead the next three innings, adding two runs in the third on RBI singles by Restko and Nommensen. The Panthers scored three runs in the fourth on a single by Wallsten and sacrifice flies by Tokarz and sophomore shortstop Cam Strang.

Restko added one more in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to give Eastern a 12-2 lead.

Chicago State's biggest threat was in the seventh when the Cougars scored three runs on two hits, but two-run innings in the seventh and eighth innings put Chicago State away.

Eleven of 14 Eastern players who got an at-bat had at least one hit, while six players had at least two RBIs.

Schmitz said they did not have too many arms this week, but he was happy because sometimes his team struggles in midweek games.

Nommensen improved his season average to a team-leading .517, as he went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and one walk.

Restko and Strang performed strong at the bottom of the order, going 9-for-10 with seven RBIs.

Strang went 5-5 in only his third start of the season as he came into the game with only three hits.

"They started off with a lot of off-speed pitches, and they were more just little slurves that were in there but they were crossing the plate," Strang said. "It's always nice to get five hits."

Mike Martin (3-0) pitched four innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, three walks and had three strikeouts.

A combination of sophomores Matt Miller and Ryan Green and senior Jordan Kreke closed the game by combining to allow five hits, two earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts.

Schmitz said although it was midweek, they need pitchers to be a little bit sharper and the six walks were too much.

Chicago State freshman Jonathan Carpen (0-2) lasted only 3 2/3 innings giving up 14 hits, walking four and striking out one. He was tagged for 10 unearned runs.

Eastern will return to action this weekend with an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against Murray State. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.


Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.

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