Following a series loss to Tennessee Tech, the Eastern baseball team ends its five-game home stand with Tuesday matchup against Indiana State.

The Panthers enter the midweek game with an 11-24 overall record after losing two of the three games to Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech that dropped Eastern to 5-10 in league action.

Eastern was supposed to play against Indiana State on March 4, in Terre Haute, Ind., but cold temperatures and snow on the ground forced the game to be canceled.

Tuesday’s game comes three days before Eastern heads to Southeast Missouri for a three-game series, as the Panthers will play the best team in the OVC.

At 23-10 overall, the Sycamores present a formidable opponent, Eastern coach Jim Schmitz said.

“Indiana State is really good – I mean their ERA is 2.99 – you’re playing a real good team and we just have to go what we did Saturday or about two or two and half games during the weekend,” Schmitz said.

The Sycamores have three starting pitchers with an ERA that is lower than four. Also, their top two relievers with the most appearances in Nick Kolarik and Keaffaber Ryan have a 2.25 ERA and a 2.73 ERA, respectively.

Kolarik has pitched in 20 innings during his 17 appearances, while Keaffaber has started one game and has come in relief 15 other times throwing a total of 29.2 innings.

Indiana State’s team ERA of 2.99 is No. 1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Sycamores are the only team with an ERA less than three in their conference.

Schmitz said the Panthers have not been able to put together a long stretch of playing solid baseball.

“There’s kind of an emotional level, where as a team we’re just not turning the corner,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you lose, it’s just not turning the corner in terms of playing good baseball on a consistent basis.”

In their last eight games, the Panthers have gone 4-4, winning one OVC series and then losing one the following week.

The Sycamores enter Coaches Stadium, winning two out of three games at Southern Illinois-Carbondale, which improved Indiana State’s MVC record to 7-5.

Neither starting pitcher has been determined yet for either teams.

Schmitz said the Panthers have to elevate their play starting Tuesday, as they have five series left in the OVC to try and get into the top six to advance to the postseason tournament.

“Indiana State is really good and SEMO is as hot as can be, so we have to go into those games with a little more than just playing baseball, and it’s a midweek game, and it’s a weekend,” Schmitz said.

Eastern is currently two games behind Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky for the sixth spot in the standings.

First pitch against Indiana State is slated for 3 p.m. Tuesday at Coaches Stadium.

“It’s another level of emotion that we have to start being on or else we’re not going to turn the corner,” Schmitz said.

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