With a New York Mets scout in attendance at Coaches Stadium Friday afternoon, Eastern’s Matt Borens started his sixth game of the season for the Panthers.

The junior right-hander pitched seven innings against IPFW, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits, but still picked up his first win of the season, improving his record to 1-2.

Despite striking out 10 batters, which is the second highest total in his career, he was not as sharp as he needed to be, Eastern coach Jim Schmitz said.

“I still don’t think he looks like a Friday night guy,” Schmitz said. “It’s negative I guess, but a Friday night guy throws zeros on the board.”

Borens began his outing, striking out five of the first six batters he faced, but then surrendered five runs from the fourth through seventh innings.

“He’s got to be better for us to win on Fridays,” Schmitz said.

Borens leads Eastern’s starters in innings pitched, (41) ERA (3.07) and strikeouts (39).

The righty started the season, allowing one earned run his first three starts against Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas and Michigan State, but including Friday’s performance against IPFW, Borens has given up 13 earned runs in his last three starts.

Schmitz said Borens has been well aware of scouts seeing him pitch, but that it has not been the reason for his recent sub-par pitching.

“He knows it – they’ve been at every game with so many at SIU-Edwardsville and here,” Schmitz said. “He’s past the scout stuff. It’s just like a hitter – he knows he’s not sharp and then he goes out there and he’s not sharp.”

Eastern returns to Ohio Valley Conference play at 3 p.m. Friday in Coaches Stadium, where Borens will start against Jacksonville State.

Players of the week

Chase Green won Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week, as the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville junior hit two home runs and had nine RBIs in five Cougars’ games.

The second baseman hit 7-of-19 (.368) with a slugging percentage of .737, while also scoring three runs.

Green was 6-of-13 during the weekend against Murray State, as he helped Southern sweep the Racers and improve to 7-2 in the OVC.

Tennessee Tech junior Chris Chism was named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, following a one-hit shutout win over Tennessee-Martin Sunday.

The right-handed pitcher had a career-high 10 strikeouts in Tennessee Tech’s 2-0 win against the Skyhawks.

Chism’s lone surrendered hit came in the seventh inning, as he allowed a total of four base runners, hitting three batters and walking none, improving to 3-0 in the season.

Tennessee Tech improved to 6-3 in the OVC and has a 19-5 overall record.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.