Eastern walked too many batters.

Three Eastern pitchers gave up three walks each in the Panthers’ 11-4 loss against Bradley at O’Brien Field in Peoria.

Eastern freshman starter Zach Carney lasted just 1 1/3 innings after walking three Bradley hitters in the first inning. Junior reliever Brian Morrell pitched 1 2/3 innings and walked three batters of his own. Both Carney (0-1) and Morrell walked the first batter they faced.

“I don’t know how many guys came in and walked their first batter,” Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. “They say their arms (are) ready. (But) are they mechanically sound with their timing?”

Freshman pitcher Mike Recchia came in for Morrell and got two outs before his first walk. Recchia had three walks in 2 2/3 innings pitched. He gave up four runs on three hits, while striking out none of the batters he faced.

“We had nine walks and two hit batters,” Schmitz said. “We just put way too many people on base. We had to go with a couple guys who hadn’t pitched very much, which is hard – Carney and (freshman Matt) Miller – but Recchia and Morrell had three walks each.”

Schmitz said one of the turning points in the game was a botched suicide squeeze with the Panthers trailing 5-3 in the top of the sixth. Junior designated hitter Zach Skidmore (double) and freshman right fielder Sean Estand (single) both got on base, but Schmitz said freshman shortstop Cameron Strang didn’t get a bunt down. Bradley’s catcher tagged Skidmore out at home and Estand was thrown out at third.

“We had a couple missed signs today, and we didn’t bunt well,” Schmitz said. “Momentum-wise, we get the bunt down, it’s 5-4.”

Eastern had 11 hits against the Braves (18-19), but Schmitz said Eastern (18-19) had to execute better even if the Panthers continued to hit well.

Eastern returns to Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series against Samford in Birmingham, Ala. The series starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday with the first game of a doubleheader against the Bulldogs.

Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.