From the look of things, it was hard to believe Mike Budde had just picked up the Panthers’ biggest victory of the season last Sunday against Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky at Coaches’ Stadium.

It’s not because Budde lacks the talent to shutdown an OVC team – Eastern won the game 11-1 – but rather what transpired after the game.

There was Budde with that valuable right arm wrapped in ice putting a tarp over the visitor’s bullpen down the left – field line.

One would think head coach Jim Schmitz could give Budde the day off from field work after a complete game one-run gem against the Colonels. However, you wouldn’t hear a complaint from Budde.

“Being the freshman, even if I pitched three no-hitters in a row, I would still be out there,” Budde said with a laugh. “But I do typical things for a freshman.”

Maybe it’s typical for a freshman to perform field work after the game, but to pitch a four-hitter against a team tied for third in the OVC, that’s a different story.

“Mike really kept us in the hunt for the OVC race,” Schmitz said. “He has progressively gotten better this season.”

What made the Lockport native’s performance even more amazing, was that his effort came less than 24 hours after the Panthers gave up a combined 27 runs in a doubleheader split with the Colonels Saturday. Although Budde pitched the game of his collegiate career, he thanked the defense and weather as the reason he was able to pick up his first NCAA victory.

“The key was the infield, they turned a lot of double plays for me,” Budde said.

While the infield did turn a pair of twin-killers, it was Budde’s ability to keep down his pitches that allowed the right-hander to entice Eastern Kentucky shortstop Jonathan Woodard to ground into two 5-4-3 double plays.

Despite Aaron Shelbourne hitting the Panthers’ first grand-slam of the season with a shot to center field in the first inning, Budde still claimed it was a pitcher’s day.

“Well, the first two games the wind was blowing out and it was more of a hitter’s day,” Budde said. “With the wind blowing in (for the third game) that had a lot to do with it.”

Whether or not the infield defense and wind aided to his victory, Budde did say this was the biggest game he had ever pitched in.

“It was definitely the biggest game I’ve pitched in because I picked up my first collegiate win,” Budde said.

That statement speaks volumes as to the importance of the weekend’s games with Eastern Kentucky. Budde is no stranger to competing in a big time atmosphere.

While attending Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Budde often found himself on the hill for Catholic League playoff games and was a two-time First Team All-Chicago Catholic League member and a Second Team All-Area performer for the Celtics.

He went 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA during his senior year, but his time in New Lennox was often overshadowed by former pitchers Carmen Pignatiello (currently pitching for the Daytona Cubs in Class-A ball) and Kris Honel, who was picked 16th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2001 draft.

Schmitz believes Pignatiello and Honel may have allowed the Panthers to find themselves a diamond in the rough.

“Yeah, (that could have contributed) but the thing Mike didn’t do (while in high school) was top off on the radar gun,” Schmitz said. “But he throws three pitches for strikes and we’ll take that any day.”

Budde started his Panther career by struggling as both a reliever and spot starter, as he was unable to find his niche on the mound. However, after his performance last Sunday, Schmitz is confident Budde is on the right track.

“He’s doing well, and I think he has gotten over the hump,” Schmitz said. “It’s hard to spend time as both a reliever and starter but now he knows he will be counted on as a starter.”

Budde also agrees that he is ready to be a big contributor for the team.

“Throughout the whole season, I’ve improved a lot,” Budde said. “At first I was just trying to get the ball over, now I’m able to have command of my pitches.”

The only question that remains now is whether or not Budde has improved enough to get out of field work after games.

His quest for the first of three straight no-hitters will begin this weekend when he takes the hill against the second-place team in the OVC Austin Peay in Tennessee.