With Eastern trailing 4-2 and Western Illinois starter Nathan Miller allowing just two hits through the first five innings, the chances of the Panthers extending their winning streak to five games seemed bleak.

But then came the top of the six inning and third baseman Ryan Campbell stepping to the plate. The powerful freshman sent a Miller offering past right fielder Eric Martinez and to the wall resulting in a double. Two batters later, left fielder Pete Stone drove Campbell home with a single and after designated hitter Mike Gavin reached first base on a fielder’s choice the stage was set for another pinch hitter, Marcus Jackson.

Jackson, the Panthers’ second leading hitter, roped the eventual game winner between shortstop and third base scoring both Stone and Gavin to put Eastern ahead 5-4.

“He [Miller] was keeping us off-guard by throwing fastballs during typical change-up counts,” Panthers head coach Jimmy Schmitz said. “So the key was just getting back to what we do well and that’s hitting the fastball in a fastball count and just taking the change-up. We did that and that was effective and then Marcus obviously got the big hit.”

After Jackson’s heroics, the game was left into the hands of the Panther bullpen, who had already struggled earlier in the game. Relievers Alex Chapple and Mike Bouchez combined to give up three earned runs on a pair of hits in a problematic fifth that saw Eastern lose their 2-1 lead. But with the Panthers up by a tally, the tandem of Andy Kuntz (2-1) and Chris Vaculik kept the Leathernecks off the scoreboard for the final three innings, despite allowing three bases on balls and three hits.

“The thing [Chapple and Bouchez] didn’t understand was how big this win was to keep our momentum,” Eastern head coach Jimmy Schmitz said.

“But what can you say about Andy Kuntz? He’s been taken from a bigger role [closer] and has taken it very well. He just went out their and threw strikes and got us to the last inning for [Vaculik]. I think it’s a neat thing for Andy cause I know it was hard for him to be moved out of a popular role, but it was very important what he did today.”

Eastern put two runs on the board in the first inning thanks in large part to three Western Illinois errors. Chris Uhle scored on one error and Stone hammered an RBI single to put Eastern up 2-0.

Western chipped away at the lead in the third inning when outfielder Kyle Malan delivered an RBI single to right field off Eastern starter Jared Marshall, who was making his second start of the year after offseason surgery. Marshall went three innings allowing four hits and one run, but Schmitz said he saw enough in the senior’s limited outing that he would be ready to go in conference action this weekend.

“Jared was on 60-pitch limit, which we thought would be four innings but he had 59 through three,” Schmitz said. “It’s really just a pinch count [issue] but he’ll be ready to go Saturday.”

With the win Eastern improves to 8-17, while Western falls to 12-22 on the season. Miller (2-3) took the loss for the Leathernecks going 5 2/3 and giving up five runs with just three earned.

Eastern will next be in action this weekend for an Ohio Valley Conference showdown with Jacksonville State beginning with a double header this Friday at Coaches Stadium.