The offensive effort on the baseball field is usually something that develops as the season progressed, but this year the Panther baseball team has already had success at the plate.

“It’s going a lot better than last year,” senior third baseman Ben Duke said. “We didn’t have a chance to get outside last year before we went to Arkansas, but this year we had two weeks to face live pitching before Friday’s game.”

Eastern faced Southern Indiana Feb. 22 in its season opener, as seven players collected hits and five different Panthers scored.

“Playing in the cold weather Friday wasn’t as big of a deal for us, so we’re a step ahead from a year ago,” Duke said.

Eastern added several junior college transfers to this year’s roster, enhancing the depth and experience of the team.

“We have six or seven guys in the lineup that can drive the ball, and a lot of it is the same guys coming back that are older, but we’ve added players like Kirk Walters too,” head coach Jim Schmitz said.

Walters transferred from Olney Central Community College where he now plays with three other former Olney players at Eastern, and fits into the lineup as Eastern’s No. 3 man.

“He’s our third hitter this year, and that gives us a better lineup, up and down,” senior first baseman Brian Nickell said.

Right fielder Pete Pirman is currently the leadoff man for the Panthers while Duke and Walters complete the first three in the lineup. Junior Bret Pignatiello, senior Brian Nickell and sophomore Nolan Cork make up the next three while Tim Aurrichio, Aaron Shelbourne and Chris Uhle round out the batting order.

“Nolan is an RBI guy and is in the combination of veterans coming back,” Schmitz said. “Brian made an adjustment from inside to outside well while Ben, who was Rookie of the Year last year and Bret, who was All-Conference are a strong group of juniors and seniors who have been here through a couple of seasons.”

The depth of the veterans combined with the new faces and transfer players has also given Eastern a benefit early in the season.

“One of our real pluses in this year’s lineup is that we don’t have to rely on one or two people,” Schmitz said. “If Kirk, or anyone else, doesn’t have a good day, we have a lot of other weapons.

The ability to practice outdoors was a definite edge in developing the Panthers hitting.

“The big spark is just absolutely to be able to get outside and see everything,” Schmitz said.

“We were able to get outside 10 days in a row last week, but now it’s hard to explain how different it is being inside or outside.”

After Tuesday’s game at Southern Indiana was canceled because of snow, Eastern will have its next shot at playing outdoors when the Panthers head south March 1 to play Mississippi in a three-game series.

Eastern does not return to Illinois until its home opener March 19 against Western Illinois. The Panthers face Southern Mississippi, New Orleans and Arkansas State in the upcoming weeks.