In just his third start back after arm surgery, Eastern senior pitcher Jared Marshall ended any doubts as to who was the ace of the Panther pitching staff.

Still limited to a strict pitch-count by Panther coaches, Marshall went six solid innings scattering six hits while allowing just two runs against a Jacksonville State team that was voted as the preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite by the coaches and sports information directors in the conference.

“That was just an outstanding performance by Jared,” Eastern head coach Jimmy Schmitz said. “Being able to throw him in conference play gives this team such a boost.”

It has been a long road for Marshall to get back on the mound at Coaches Stadium for conference play. At the end of a season that saw him go 7-2 with a 5.34 ERA, Marshall said he heard a pop in his arm while pitching in the OVC tournament last May.

Despite completing the game, the Jacksonville native needed offseason surgery to repair the damage.

“[The doctors] basically had to reattach my bicep tendon which was coming off,” Marshall said.

After the surgery, Marshall faced a vigorous rehab process that started in the summer of 2003. There was hope from the Panther coaches and Marshall the senior would be back on the hill at the start of the season but unfortunately that was not the case.

“The rehab was a long process,” Marshall said. “I’ve been through it once before because this was my second surgery, but [head athletic trainer] Mark Bonnstetter has been working with me everyday. It wasn’t so much that I was behind schedule, rather, it was just a lengthy process, but hopefully I’m getting back to form now.”

As can be expected with a long rehab, Marshall said he had some doubts whether or not he would return. After redshirting in 2002, Marshall knew this would be his last chance to pitch for the blue and white and understood his collegiate career could end without making a single appearance his senior year fueled the comeback.

“There’s always doubts during rehab,” Marshall said. “But with this being my senior year, I knew I wanted to finish my career here and I just had to push through it even though it was very difficult.”

If dealing with his second lengthy rehab in three years wasn’t difficult enough, Marshall also had to endure missing the start of this season while the Panthers struggled with the likes of Mississippi, Southern Mississippi and South Alabama.

“It was really tough not to be out there with my teammates,” Marshall said. “Last year obviously was a good year, and this year I wanted to come and get a whole season in. It didn’t work out but hopefully I’ll be able to finish strong.”

If last Saturday was any indication, Marshall certainly appears to be the pitcher who led the Panthers in wins the previous year while holding opposing batters to a .261 batting average, which also was tops on the staff.

However, after a major surgery, Marshall knows better than to proclaim himself as the same pitcher he was a year ago.

“Maybe arm strength wise I’m not where I used to be, but mentally I feel as long as my arm holds up I’ll feel confident and comfortable.”

Marshall’s return now provides the Panthers with three solid arms to throw during conference play. Sophomore Kirk Miller is second on the team behind Marshall with a 4.60 ERA and has two of the Panthers’ four complete games. Junior college transfer Kyle Widegren leads the Panthers in wins (4) and strikeouts with 32.

“With our pitching staff, everybody on this team goes into the weekend conference games believing we can sweep the other team,” Schmitz said. “The weekend games go by quick because you play three games in two days so you need to bring your ‘A’ game and right now the pitchers are doing that.”

With Eastern winning six of their first nine OVC games and sitting in a tie for second place in the league, the possibilities of Marshall ending his Panther career as champion isn’t out of the question. And going out with an OVC crown would suit the right-hander just fine.

“The OVC title is what I’m shooting for,” Marshall said. “I’d really like to end my career with a championship.”