When the NCAA selection committee announced the field for this year’s NCAA Tournament Monday afternoon, Eastern was not amongst the schools named.

The Panthers failed to receive an at-large bid after a disappointing weekend at the OVC Tournament in Paducah, Ky. The team bowed out after losing to Jacksonville State 11-5 on May 21, then to Murray State 5-4 the following day.

Because the NCAA only awards automatic bids to the champions of conference tournaments, the Panthers were left to hope their regular season OVC title and wins over major conference teams Oklahoma, Indiana, South Florida, and Illinois would be enough to earn them an at-large bid

However, with the two defeats the Panthers’ RPI rating (used heavily by the selection committee) dropped from 37th to as low as 69th, leading the committee to overlook Eastern for the NCAA Tournament field.

“We made a couple phone calls, and the feeling on Sunday night was that we were in,” head coach Jim Schmitz said. “When a very good mid-major has a very good year, they are not given respect.”

The NCAA committee has received criticism for overlooking mid-major programs. Eastern, Rhode Island (37-20-1) and Missouri State (34-20) were all left out, while mediocre Big 12 teams Baylor (29-24) and Oklahoma State (32-22) were both handed at-large bids.

“I’m just so upset. The system is set up so the big boys don’t let anyone else to their party,” Schmitz said.

With the losses in the OVC Tournament, the Panthers finish the season with a 36-14 overall record. The team failed to tie the school’s single-season record for wins (37), set by the 1998 team.

In their OVC Tournament debut in the second round on May 21, Eastern allowed Jacksonville State to jump out to an 8-0 lead before going on to lose the game 11-5. The setback was the third for the Panthers against JSU this season, more than any other opponent.

“We get to up for them. We make it out to be more than what it is,” Schmitz said. “We play them on an emotional level instead of a baseball level.”

Facing elimination, the Panthers took a 4-3 lead into the ninth inning against Murray State on May 22. The Racers loaded the bases, and proceeded to win the game 5-4 with a one-out, walk-off single to right field. The loss ended the Panthers’ hopes to repeat as OVC Tournament champions, as well as their season after they were not selected for the NCAA field.

Jeff Jurinek can be reached at 581-7943 or at