Border war rivalry talk starts up whenever Eastern plays Indiana State in any sport.

This year’s baseball game between the Sycamores and the Panthers Tuesday in Terre Haute, Ind., is no different.

“The guys that have been here for four years, Kuntz and Marshall, have been telling the freshmen how big this game is,” assistant coach Pat Tueth said. “This is a game we definitely need to take.”

The Panthers started their season with a win and haven’t been able to grab another since.

Before Spring Break, when Eastern had lost only four or five in a row, head coach Jim Schmitz said he wasn’t worried about it. Now the Panther losing streak has reached 13.

“We really haven’t started worrying yet,” Tueth said. “There aren’t really any problems. The guys are getting along and sticking together.”

Tueth said the pitching is the biggest question mark. Through the Panthers first 11 games, their team earned run average was an alarming 10.76. Another bothersome statistic was the opponents’ batting average (.354).

He said the Panthers are equipped with five or six really good arms but nobody really has a set role.

Tueth said once the pitchers find their role in the rotation Eastern will start to win games.

Another setback the Panthers have faced is the four or five freshmen that start from game to game. Tueth feels the first 14 games were a good tool for the freshmen to use to get rid of the kinks.

“Once the freshmen get comfortable living on the road out of a suitcase they should be able to perform better on the field,” Tueth said.

The Panthers will throw senior Andy Kuntz when they travel to Terre Haute, Ind. Kuntz will only be allowed to throw a certain amount of pitches but Tueth feels he’ll be able to get the team going.

“He’s had some trouble so far but he’ll step up a little as the weather gets warmer,” Tueth said.

Tueth said there is not one aspect of the Sycamores that the Panthers will key on. He said they have a couple decent pitchers but they don’t have a big power guy like Ole Miss or Arkansas State.

“We just have to go in there and take it to them,” Tueth said.

Indiana State head coach Bob Warn said his team, much like Eastern, has played a good schedule coming into Tuesday’s game.

“We lost some games on our trip to Millington and Mcneese in the ninth and extra innings,” Warn said. “We didn’t play well enough to win but we weren’t far off.”

Warn said his team didn’t start hitting until his team traveled to Millington. That’s when the bats started to come alive unfortunately sporadic pitching and a couple of fielding errors overcame the Sycamores.

One miscue cost Indiana State a game.

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They were up 4-3 going into the ninth inning and their pitching couldn’t close it out as they ended up losing 8-4.

However Warn said his team is in a better frame of mind now.

“Our fielding, ERA and offensive numbers are all improving,” Warn said.

Warn said with all major categories improving a trip home is just what the Sycamores need to get on the winning trail.

“We’ll be at home in a friendly atmosphere sleeping in our own beds,” Warn said.

The Sycamores will throw senior right hander Brian Woods against the Panthers.

“Woods has struggled so far and hasn’t been able to control his game,” Warn said. “He’s one of our starting four so he’s capable of winning. He was 5-4 last year. We hope he can start putting together some good outings and getting us some wins.” Warn said when Indiana State plays Eastern it’s usually a pretty close game in which anyone can win.

“The games are always up in the air,” Warn said. “Whoever makes the fewest mistakes and whoever goes out and has a good day will probably win the game.”

Warn takes the opposite approach when talk of the border war surfaces.

“You have to be careful never to play any one game differently than the next,” Warn said. “That’s one of the worst things you can do.”