Eastern’s baseball team remained undefeated in the Ohio Valley after sweeping the conference’s preseason pick to win the league in a three-game weekend road series.

The Panthers (20-13, 11-0) defeated Austin Peay (18-19, 3-6) in three straight, 6-5, 11-2 and 7-3 to remain in first place in the OVC.

“We’re really encouraged that we were able to pick up three on the road against the team that was picked to win the conference,” Panther head coach Jim Schmitz said. “I’ve really been impressed with how well this team has concentrated and been focused. Getting three wins on the road against a team like that shows that their mental concentration is very impressive.”

Eastern swept its fourth straight conference series of the year with another balanced attack. Solid pitching efforts from Scott Metz, Pete Martin, Nick Albu and reliever Mike Ziroli kept Eastern in each of the three games, allowing the Panthers an opportunity to win.

“Our pithing was really good again and kept us in the game, giving us a chance to win,” Schmitz said. “Our pitching really kept us in a couple of games where we got down early. Our pitchers kept the scores at a level where we had a chance to come back and get the wins.”

When Eastern’s pitching didn’t keep the Panthers in the game, their defense did. Already down 1-0 to the Governors in the fourth inning of the series’ first game, the Panthers were faced with a situation in which Austin Peay had runners on first and second with no one out. The team’s defense quickly got Eastern out of the jam.

“They’ve got runners at first and second with no one out and they try to bunt a guy over but miss,” Schmitz said. “(Center fielder) Bobby VanHoorebeck comes in behind the runner on second and (catcher) Timmy (Aurrichio) throws down and picks him off.

“Then Scotty (Metz) picks the guy off first and we go from two runners on with no outs to two outs and nobody on,” he said.

The Governors still managed a two-run homer in the inning, but Schmitz said keeping other teams out of the big inning is what has helped his club all year long.

“They get the two-run homer, but it could have very easily turned out to be six runs in that inning instead of two,” Schmitz said. “And even after that, Bobby (VanHoorebeck) guns a guy out at the plate from center.

“That’s the neat thing about this team,” he said. “Those are things we don’t even talk about. Our guys just go out and do it.”

Metz’s effort along with the defense’s allowed the Panthers to only be down 3-0 in the sixth inning of the series’ first game against last year’s OVC Pitcher of the Year Mike Weel. That’s when Eastern’s offense took over, scoring five runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead.

“Scotty (Metz) was such a good battler and we were only down 3-0 to Mike Weel, which could have been a different story,” Schmitz said. “Then our hitters get up there and our patient and we’re able to get literally five hits in a row against the Pitcher of the Year last year in the conference.”

Junior Ben Duke started the scoring onslaught with a single, which was followed by singles from senior third baseman Chris Martin and senior left fielder Keith Laski. VanHoorebeck then walked followed by a single from junior Pete Pirman and junior designated hitter Brian Nickell.

Austin Peay then staged a comeback scoring a run in the sixth and tying the game in the seventh as Governor right fielder Frank Kunich hit a solo shot off of Ziroli to send the game into extra innings.

Eastern quickly came back in the eighth to win the first game of the series as second baseman Josh Landon’s single drove in Nickell, which would turn out to be the game-winning run. Ziroli would then hold Austin Peay scoreless in the bottom half of the eighth to pick up the win.

Metz went five and 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits while walking just one and striking out four. Nickell led Eastern’s offensive effort as he was the only Panther to record a pair of hits in the game.

“Nickell had a good day,” Schmitz said. “He’s really starting to get in a groove.”

In the second game, Eastern thrashed the Governors 11-2, scoring eight of those runs in the third inning. Pete Martin picked up the win for Eastern, going the full seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out 12. Duke and designated hitter Bret Pignatiello each had four hits in the game while Pirman had three and Aurrichio finished with a pair of hits.

“I really can’t be more proud of our offense,” Schmitz said. “The best compliment anyone can give our team is that our lineup is solid one through nine who know their roles and do whatever it takes to win a game.”

In the third game, Eastern was down 2-0 early before scoring four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth on its way to a 7-3 win. Albu picked up the win for the Panthers, going all seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four. Duke, Chris Martin, Aurrichio and reserve shortstop Chris Uhle all finished with a pair of hits for the Panthers.

“We feel very fortunate to go down there and get a sweep, and when you look at the boxscores across the country, it’s unusual to see sweeps at any level,” Schmitz said. “We’re excited where we are, and we’ve been able to pick up just that much more confidence.”