Even more important than Eastern’s 4-3 rubber game win against Jacksonville State last Saturday at Coaches Stadium was the performance of ace Jared Marshall.

Marshall had missed the first month of the season after recovering from off-season surgery and had started just two games (March 31st against Chicago State and April 6th against Western Illinois) before getting the nod in arguably the biggest game of the season to date. Showing the same movement of his pitches that helped him to a 7-2 record before his season ended last year, Marshall went six solid innings allowing just six hits and two runs while striking out three batters.

Marshall left the game with the lead but the Panther bullpen could not hold up the score and the Jacksonville native suffered his third no-decision in as many starts. But unlike his previous two outings, Marshall went deep in the ballgame. Against Chicago State and Western Illinois, the senior went two and three innings respectively because he was on strict 40-pitch limit. While he was still on a pitch-count, Marshall pitched far enough into the ballgame where he would have received the win.

While Marshall looked like the hurler of old, Eastern head coach Jimmy Schmitz was hesitant to say his ace is officially back.

“I think the key will be this week to see how he responds to his mid-week workouts,” Schmitz said. “We’re definitely going to keep an eye on him because last year he had three or four big starts for us and then he woke up and boom he had the injury. So we’re always going to be watching to see how he responds after his starts.”

In Marshall’s performance against Jacksonville State, it appeared that a vintage Greg Maddux was on the mound at Coaches Stadium. Marshall was extremely efficient with his pitches throwing just 66 in his six innings of work.

“That [his pitch efficiency] was unavailable,” Schmitz said. “We scripted out that he would go five innings but the way he was going he could have went 10 innings. He’s a veteran and he pitched very aggressive and through some great pitches.”

With Marshall nearing his old form and the recent successful outings, turned in by sophomore Kirk Miller and junior Kyle Widegren, Schmitz realizes he now has three pitchers to turn to in conference play that he expects to get wins from. The Panther skipper said the rest of the pitching staff doesn’t have to worry about being called in to replace a struggling starter early in the ballgame and can instead concentrate on their niche in the game.

“With Jared returning everyone knows this solidifies the rotation,” Schmitz said. “I think we can throw three guys who all can pick up wins. Not only is that a big boost for the offense but it’s also a boost for the rest of the pitchers who can be used in other roles.”