Thanks in large part to a pair of big innings and strong performances on the mound, Indiana State easily defeated the Panthers 13-3 at Coaches Stadium Wednesday.

The Sycamores exploded with five runs in the first inning against losing pitcher Andy Kuntz (0-3) and never looked back. Third baseman Chris Hall put Indiana State on the board with a two-run single and, the hits kept on coming. The death blow came from catcher Ben Vannatter who hit a Kuntz fastball over the fence in left-center for a three-run blast to give Indiana Sate a 5-0 lead.

The Sycamores put the game out of reach when the team posted their seventh run on the board. First baseman Josh Prickett had two of his three RBIs on the day when he connected with a Mike Bouchez’s pitch for a two-run blast.

The Sycamores won their 13th in a row and improved their record to 15-3.

“We had a really good game,” Indiana State head coach Bob Warn said. “Chris (Jones) pitched well and we didn’t allow a run in the last five innings. It’s things like that which allow you to win 13 in a row.”

Jones (1-0) yielded two runs and scatted four hits over five solid innings.

The Panthers, coming off a tough loss to Saint Louis Tuesday, saw their record fall to 5-12.

“My concern right now is that we are doing everything we can to lose,” Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. “When we hit we don’t pitch, and when we pitch we don’t hit.”

Schmitz stressed the importance of coming out fast against a red hot Indiana State team. The Sycamores have not lost in nearly three weeks. Their last defeat was March 8 against Wisconsin-Parkside.

“They’re 15-3, and we couldn’t let them get out to a good start like that,” Schmitz said. “We’re not in any kind of rhythm right now; it could be a lack of focus.”

Schmitz and the Panthers had upset on their mind when they sent Kuntz out to the hill, much like the previous meeting with the Sycamores, Indiana State got out of the box strong.

“I thought Kuntz was primed to give us a good start, but the home run ball in the first took the wind out of our sail,” Schmitz said. “But there is not a lot to say. Indiana State has done this to us twice.”

Schmitz was referring to the teams last meeting on Mar. 18 when the Sycamores opened the game with a three run first inning and went on to win 13-2.

If there was a silver lining for the Panthers, it was the team’s relief corps of senior Nathan Stone and freshmen Mike Budde and Alex Chapple. Stone, Budde and Chapple pitched five scoreless innings and stopped the bleeding for Kuntz and Bouchez ,who combined to give up 13 earned runs and 14 hits in just four innings.

Schmitz was exceptionally pleased with Budde’s performance. The Provide Catholic graduate and Lockport native, pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three of the 10 batters he faced.

“Mike Budde pitched well,” Schmitz said. “He is a three-pitch pitcher who is someone we’re going to have to count on.”

Eastern could only muster nine hits on the day and was led offensively by left fielder Danny Jordan who went 2-4 on the afternoon with two RBIs. Despite the team’s heartbreaking loss to Saint Louis 24 hours earlier, Schmitz would not use that as an excuse for the Panthers poor play.

“Not at all,” Schmitz said of the loss. “Yesterday was a good sign for us psychologically.”

While the Saint Louis loss may have been a good sign, it did not translate to a victory against the Sycamores.

“The saving grace (about this loss) is that it wasn’t a conference game,” Schmitz said.

The Panthers will remain in Charleston this weekend, hosting Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne in a four-game set with doubleheaders set for Saturday and Sunday.