The Eastern baseball team’s offense broke out in a huge way in Wednesday’s 12-11 win at Indiana State.

During the Panthers’ four-game losing streak, Eastern had 20 hits in 118 at-bats (.169). The Panthers nearly equaled their four-game output with 14 hits against the Sycamores.

“We went back to our offensive lineup,” Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. “Guys weren’t hitting the ball, so we had make a change.”

The change worked out for the better for the Panthers. Jason Cobb, who moved back to catcher, went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Panthers quickly fell behind 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning, marking a quick exit for starting pitcher Alex Guttosch.

Unlike the previous games, the Panthers responded with a seven-run third inning.

Eastern loaded the bases without a hit as Bret Nommensen walked, Mark Chagnon reached on an error and a pitch hit Erik Huber.

The Panthers (9-11) made the Sycamores pay for their mistakes. Indiana State pitcher Adam Tyler threw a wild pitch, with Eastern’s Dan Fox scoring from third to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

Eastern continued to capitalize as Adam Varrassi hit a three-run homer to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.

“That inning was huge,” Schmitz said. “It seemed like we broke out of all our struggles in one inning. It’s what we needed.”

The Sycamores responded with four runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game 7-7.

Eastern answered Indiana State’s rally with one of its own as the Panthers scored four runs on four hits in the fifth inning to take an 11-7 lead. A two-out, bases loaded two-run single by Huber capped the rally.

“We’re getting our swings back to where they should be,” Schmitz said in reference to the Panthers going with the pitch. “We’re making better strides at the plate. It’s encouraging to see what our offense can do.”

The Panthers found a way to make it interesting in the ninth inning. With a 12-9 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, Huber served up a two-run homer to Kyle Kolb to cut the Panthers lead to 12-11.

“Huber gives up two-run homers all the time,” Schmitz said jokingly. “We’re getting used to it.”

Huber calmed down and got Dan Caudle to groundout and Tim Brewer to strike out to preserve the victory.

“The bullpen came out and gave us a lift,” Schmitz said of Huber, Chris Vaculik and Kenny Firlit. “We needed this win for our confidence.”

With 20 games passed, the Panthers will look to Saturday’s home opener against Tennessee-Martin, a welcome site for Schmitz.

“Twenty games on the road is a little too much,” he said. “I’m looking forward to not getting on the bus.”