Frustrations are mounting for head coach Jim Schmitz and his Panthers as they were swept in a forgettable weekend series to rival Eastern Kentucky.

The Panthers (4-18, 0-3 Ohio Valley Conference) have never started 0-3 in conference action since Schmitz took over the program 16 years ago.

Part of the problem Schmitz said is the injuries to key players, especially ace junior right-hander Josh Mueller.

Mueller – who has missed his last three starts with what pitching coach Skylar Meade called “post-throwing soreness in his right arm” – was 8-1 with 64 strikeouts in 78 innings of work in a stellar 2009.

Schmitz said before the season, Mueller was projected to be a high Major League Baseball draft pick in the top three rounds.

The last game the No. 1 pitcher threw was March 5 against Alabama in Birmingham, Ala.

Mueller has a 2.81 ERA and is 0-1 in 16 innings and three starts this season.

“We’re going to be cautious,” Schmitz said. “Josh is our No. 1 arm. He just had a little strain in his arm or his shoulder. He’s expected to do a short mound (Monday), throw against hitters on Wednesday in a little simulated game.”

Schmitz said warming up and simulated games are the protocol for a pitcher coming back from an injury.

“Josh has a chance, a future, but we would do the same thing if it was someone else,” he said. “We are going to make sure he is healthy and ready to go. We will know that more Wednesday afternoon.”

“In some ways, we have made moves because of lack of performances and made moves because of injuries,” Schmitz said. “Things are a little out of wack, but getting Josh back in the rotation will shore up the back end of the rotation.”

Red-shirting Mueller is out of the question, the coach said.

Now, the injury bug has spread to senior first baseman Richie Derbak.

Derbak already had Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow in the off-season to end his closing career. Now, the team leader is out with an infected right ankle when he hit a ball off his ankle in Florida. Everything was fine, Schmitz said, but it got worse after the March 24 Chicago State game.

Schmitz said the trainers are doing tests on Derbak’s ankle.

He missed the Eastern Kentucky series and Southern Illinois-Carbondale game.

Derbak is batting .229 with one homer, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored.

Schmitz said everyone is in new positions and struggling.

Without top players Mueller and Derbak these next few games, the Panthers have their work cut out for them.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944

or [email protected].