Despite the 5-2 loss, Eastern coach Eric Start had some optimism regarding his team.

“I am extremely proud of this team today. We fought extremely hard today,” Stark said.

After going 0-3 in doubles matches against Purdue, Eastern finally won their first doubles match of the year with the duo of junior Robert Skolik and freshman Preston Touliatos.

Skolik and Touliatos won the No. 1 position match 6-4 over Cardinal players Patrick Elliott and Lucas Andersen.

Ball State got the 1-0 advantage taking the doubles point from Eastern in the final two matches.

Henderson and Silva lost 6-3 to Ball State’s Ray Leonard and Andrew Stutz, and Grant Reiman and Trent Reiman lost 6-2 to Collin Rigney and Matt Helm.

“We moved and were more aggressive today in doubles especially Rob [Skolik] and Preston [Touliatos] and it paid off,” said Stark.

He said Henderson and Silva did some good things, but it came down to points that didn’t go their way or else the result of their match and the team match might have been different.

After the Panthers dropped the first and second singles matchups, Skolik continued his successful day in singles matches with a victory in the No. 3 match against Ray Leonard 6-4, 6-4.

Henderson followed up with another victory in the No. 4 spot as well, defeating Jan Jirus 1-6, 7-6, 6-2.

“I can’t give Rob and Ryan enough credit today,” Stark said. “Rob had a fantastic day today in both singles and doubles and Ryan, after dropping a tough 3 setter last week, bounced right back and showed tremendous fight and energy in coming from a set behind to win this week.”

Eastern lost the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches to end the day. Andrew Stutz defeated Silva 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, and Collin Rigney defeated Grant Reiman 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.

Though the Panthers lost their first two matches of the season, Stark is not worried at all yet going forward.

“I think this team, even in a tough loss grew by leaps and bounds today. This loss today will pay off in many victories down the road this season,” he said.

The Panthers next matchup is next Saturday at 8 a.m. in Des Moines, Iowa against Nebraska, which is their second of three Big Ten opponents on the schedule.

Cody Delmendo can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].