After losing all four of their games at Kansas State, Eastern’s baseball coach Jim Schmitz found one positive to look back on.

“At least we’re on the bus heading back to Charleston,” Schmitz said.

It was that kind of four-game stretch for the Panthers, who were outscored 43-13 in Manhattan, Kan.

Schmitz points to the Wildcats maintaining their plate discipline, and the Panthers constantly flailing at pitches out of the strike zone.

In the four-game set, the Eastern pitchers walked 24 Wildcats, while the Panthers’ hitters took only five walks.

“Our (pitchers and hitters) just didn’t know where the strike zone was,” Schmitz said. “Either we’re swinging at pitches out of the strike zone or our pitchers are not finding the plate. It’s frustrating.”

The Panthers’ (1-6) starting pitchers especially struggled against Kansas State, as Brandon Murphy was the only starter to make it through the fifth inning.

“Either you can throw strikes or you can’t,” Schmitz said. “It doesn’t change if you’re in Charleston or Manhattan.”

The Eastern hitters continued to struggle as they left an average of eight men on base in the four losses.

The Panthers were getting players on base, Schmitz said, they just weren’t getting them in.

“Playing against a team like that shows us how you should play the game,” Schmitz said. “Their hitters weren’t chasing pitches like our guys.”

There were a few bright spots in the Panthers’ lineup. Third baseman Ryan Campbell continued his torrid hitting pace as he finished the series 5-for-14 (.357) and has now hit safely in 21 straight games, dating back to last season.

With his hitting streak intact, he stands second on the Panthers’ all-time list of longest hit streaks. The record is held by former Panther Jeff Camman, who hit safely in 23 straight games from 2003 to 2004.

“He’s stayed pretty consistent the whole series,” Schmitz said of Campbell. “He’s driving the ball more than pulling it.”

Even with the struggles in the Panthers’ offense, Schmitz doesn’t foresee any lineup changes.

However, he would like to see more production from the middle of his batting order. He pointed to the recent struggles of catcher/designated hitter Jason Cobb. Cobb, who had a magnificent sophomore season, hit 1-for-12 in the four games.

“Right now, he’s not taking a good swing at all,” Schmitz said. “At this point, he hasn’t been able to do anything.”

Although the four games in Manhattan were the Panthers’ first games outside this season, Schmitz didn’t see that as a viable excuse.

He did think that the four-game slide was a good experience for his team as it was more of a reality check than anything.

“I think it’s good for everybody,” Schmitz said of the four-game skid. “They know they’re not as good as they thought they were. We just need to hang in there and keep working.”