After consecutive losses at Arkansas to open the season, the Panther baseball team will be tested this weekend when it travels to Birmingham, Ala.

The Panthers will play in a four-team round robin tournament featuring the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Kentucky and Marshall.

Eastern looks to improve upon its lack of offensive production and hopes to mount a more consistent offensive attack throughout the course of this weekend’s games.

“Our hitters showed no consistency after the early innings in our games at Arkansas,” head coach Jim Schmitz said.

Schmitz also said his team’s lack of offensive production was due to season-opening nervousness and the lack of seeing live pitching.

The Panthers will face the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers Friday.

The Blazers (9-0), prior to the outcome of Thursday night’s game against future Ohio Valley Conference school Samford, have tied the record for best start in school history.

Senior Matt Tyson will make his first start and appearance on the mound this season. He faces a Blazers lineup currently posting a .336 team batting average and has four players hitting over .400.

UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso attributes his team’s early success to offensive consistency.

“We have been swinging the bats pretty well,” Giangrosso said. “Our hitting has been what has carried us this year.”

The Panther offense will face a UAB pitching staff with a 2.51 team ERA.

“We know we are going to be facing an (undefeated) team,” Brett Pignatiello said. “You have to be a little more focused from at-bat to at-bat.”

Schmitz noted some of the strengths of UAB and touched upon the importance of the game for the Panthers.

“UAB is quick and has some big guys in their lineup,” Schmitz said. “They will be a good test for us.”

The road trip doesn’t get any easier for the Panthers who face the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday.

The Wildcats (3-3) are hitting .271 as a team and have posted a team ERA of 3.91 prior to today’s game with Marshall.

Senior Damon White (0-0) will start for the Panthers after an impressive three inning outing against Arkansas. In White’s first appearance of the season he allowed no runs, two hits and struck out one in three innings of work. White hopes to carry his performance against Arkansas over to the game against Kentucky.

“I’m looking forward and I’m excited to be able to face a SEC team again,” White said. “I will be ready to go five or six innings if the team needs me to do so.”

Eastern will face Marshall University in the finale game. The Thundering Herd are 2-3 prior to Friday’s game with Kentucky and have a team batting average of .316, but have struggled defensively. Marshall has committed 14 errors in the first five games of their season.

Head coach Dave Piepenbrink said his team’s strength is found in it’s pitching.

“Our pitching this season has been strong, but we just haven’t been fielding the ball well,” Piepenbrink said.

Freshman Kirk Miller (0-0) has been tasked with a start after a shaky outing in his last appearance.

“We want to give (Miller) a chance to start a game. He came into the Arkansas game a little nervous, but we need to get him out there. He has a good arm and will be able to throw a lot of pitches,” Schmitz said.

Coach Schmitz is also looking for offensive output from Kirk Walters, which could be a key to the team’s success this weekend.

“Kirk is really coming on. We really need him to come back strong this year after being injured last season,” Schmitz said.