The Panthers open the home schedule against Quincy University at Coaches Stadium on Tuesday. Playing a four game series against Division one powerhouse Kansas State will make the Panthers battle tested.

“Kansas State is just one of those Big 12 teams that pitches well,” head coach Jim Schmitz said.

The Panthers only managed to score 13 runs off 36 hits against the Wildcats in the weekend series.

Eastern finished the 2005 season with a record of 9-13 at home, much better than their record of 8-26 away from Coaches Stadium.

“We’re excited to be back home,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz said he is hoping that a win can help build the team’s momentum for the rest of the season.

Offensively, the team has been inconsistent at the plate. The Panthers were outscored 43-13 and are eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in team batting.

However, junior third baseman Ryan Campbell has been red hot with a .346 batting average and is on a 21-game hitting streak.

“I’ve been seeing the ball well lately,” he said. “I feel comfortable at the plate, and I worked hard in the off season changing my swing and adding some power, too.”

Campbell has two doubles early in the season and leads Eastern with 11 total bases.

Junior right-hander Brandon Murphy leads the pitching staff with the most innings pitched with 12, while junior Mike Budde is the only pitcher on the team with a win. The lone win came on three innings of scoreless relief.

Junior pitcher Chris Vaculik will start the 2 p.m. game. Vaculik’s 7.71 earned run average is the highest among the starters.

The Panthers don’t play at home again until March 21 against Blackburn College, which is more of a reason why coach Schmitz wants the team to win the first home game in order to establish a winning streak.

The players are trying to move on after their poor performance this weekend.

“Tomorrow we need a win. We just have to come out ready to play,” he said.