Ever since the Ohio Valley Conference season began, head coach Jim Schmitz has tried to solve the problem of who can be the No. 3 starter for the Panthers.

With Drew Gierich emerging as a potential No. 1 starter and Brandon Murphy pitching well in his four OVC starts, he had to find a third starter that could give his team a chance to win the middle game of a series.

Kenny Firlit may be the solution to that problem.

Firlit pitched in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader against Jacksonville State at Coaches Stadium.

He threw five innings and allowed just four hits and one run, giving the Panthers a chance to win late in the game when they scored seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings. They won the game 7-1.

“He got his velocity up and made great pitches,” Schmitz said. “I can’t say enough.”

The game didn’t start out as planned.

“I was a little nervous out there in the first inning,” he said. “But it was a little easier going out there with winning the first game. It would have been more of a must-win had we lost.”

JSU second baseman Bert Smith led off the game with a single. Firlit looked a little flustered at first, throwing to first base several times before focusing on first baseman Allan Rose at the plate.

With one out, Clay Whittemore dropped a single in front of Panther center fielder Brett Nommenson.

Firlit took Brian Piazza to a full count before striking him out but then walked Garrett Bass on five pitches to load the bases.

Firlit managed to get Eric Beck to pop up to Blake Meyer.

After the first inning, he only got into trouble in the fourth, when the Gamecocks scored their run.

“Once he got on a roll after one inning, he settled down,” Schmitz said. “That’s the sign of a starter.”

Firlit was the most recent pitcher to get a chance.

Left-hander Mike Manns started the second game of the first three OVC series.’ After a hot start against Tennessee Tech, Manns couldn’t find the strike zone and had eight walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched in his last two starts.

His earned run average of 12.46 over the last two starts caused Schmitz to look another direction.

Firlit began the season as a relief pitcher. His first 10 appearances came out of the bullpen until he started this week’s midweek game against Indiana State.

His performance Friday moved his conference earned run average to 1.74.

“He pitched phenomenal,” third baseman Ryan Campbell said. “We are looking for that guy.”

Only Alex Guttosch’s 1.29 ERA is better among Panther pitchers with more than seven innings pitched.

Firlit will remain in the rotation for next weekend’s series against Samford, who leads the OVC and is three games ahead of Eastern.