Hot hitting and a few solid pitching efforts gave the Eastern baseball team three wins in its four game weekend series against Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Eastern piled on a combined 30 runs on 32 hits Saturday winning game one 9-2 and game two 21-6. Eastern then took the first of the two games Sunday 5-4, but could not complete the sweep falling 9-7 in game four.

“I’m real pleased with our performances this weekend,” Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz said. “I knew the swings would come around.”

First game

The Panthers (8-13) gave Schmitz career win No. 400 in the series opener.

Eastern jumped on the Mastodons from the beginning

when senior outfielder Kirk Walters gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead with a two-RBI double.

Eastern got another run in the second and added four more in the fourth to give IPFW starter David Zachary an early exit.

Senior catcher Bret Pignatiello hit his first of two home runs in the game and third of the day with a solo shot in the fourth. He added his second on a two run shot in the seventh inning to put the Panthers up 9-2.

On the mound senior Damon White (2-1) went the distance with a four hit performance. He struck out 10 and only gave up one earned run.

Second game

Eastern started game two the same way it started game one, by scoring six runs off of Mastodon starter Keegan Laycock.

The Panthers batted around the order as Pignatiello hit his third long shot of the day and redshirt freshman Pete Stone knocked his first collegiate home run.

“The ball just looked like a beach ball,” Pignatiello said.

IPFW tried to keep the game close with a solo home run from Eric Lambert in the second and a two-run shot from Jacob Abramson to make the score 7-4.

Eastern ended the Mastodons’ hopes of a close game with two more runs in the third, seven in the fourth and five in the fifth as the Mastodons used up five pitchers.

Seven of the Panthers’ starters finished the game with at least two hits.

IPFW head coach Billy Gernon was impressed with Eastern’s offensive ability.

“Eastern is one of the best offensive teams we have seen this season,” Gernon said. “We couldn’t figure out how to get Pignatiello out. I tip my hat to Eastern.”

Eastern starter senior Matt Tyson (1-0) pitched a complete game allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits.

Third game

The Mastodons took their first lead of the series in the first inning of the first game Sunday. IPFW second baseman hit a two-run home run off of Eastern starter Jared Marshall.

Eastern responded in the bottom of the first with a two out RBI single senior outfielder Danny Jordan to make the score 2-1.

The score was evened at two in the fourth off an RBI double from senior Aaron Shelbourne.

The teams would trade two-run homers in the fifth as Zach Walton slammed his first of the day while Pignatiello nailed his fourth of the weekend.

The game was won in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from shortstop Kyle Haines, scoring Jeff Cammann from third base.

Senior Micah Gray (2-1) took the win for Eastern going 2 1/3 innings of relief giving up two hits and zero runs.

Fourth game

A late Eastern rally fell about three feet short as the Mastodons took the final game 9-7.

Eastern was down 9-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning but piled on five runs to make the score 9-7.

With two outs in the sixth, Pignatiello stepped to the plate as the tying run and connected for a long shot to left field that Mastodon left fielder David Zachary caught at the warning track.

Walton and Hagedorn each hit a homer for IPFW, which scored five runs in the second and three more in the third.

Pignatiello hit his fifth homer of the series in the bottom of the first.

Eric Lambert (1-1) took the win giving up seven runs on seven hits.

Freshman Mike Budde (0-3) took the loss for the Panthers lasting only 2 2/3 innings giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits.

Despite taking thee of the four games, Pignatiello was disappointed Eastern could not complete the sweep.

“Winning 4-of-4 should be our goal,” Pignatiello said. “We showed some signs of life. We turned it on (Saturday), but not as much on (Sunday).”