If it takes playing all 20 of her players in one inning to win a game, that is what Eastern softball coach Kim Schuette will do to win that game. If winning a game means playing the same nine players over and over again, Schuette will do that.

When it comes to who she plays from her roster, when and where, Schuette is doing so to win a game. Schuette put this mentality on display Wednesday night at Williams Field, putting multiple different players into her lineup, while also moving players around the diamond in two losses against Indiana State.

The changes seemed for the most part to work out in the Panthers’ favor despite the losses.

The Panthers’ normal everyday short stop Megan Burton was moved to third base in game one of the doubleheader and then transitioned into centerfield for game two. Burton was playing out of position, but except for maybe one play, did not look like it in either game.

“Megan is athletic. She can play anywhere on the field,” Schuette said. “If you have 20 of those it’s pretty fun. So, we have some puzzle pieces of athletic kids, we have some young freshman who can play several spots. We’re still trying different things, so we don’t want to put too much pressure on certain kids.”

Burton’s athleticism is what allows her to play multiple spots on the field, but it’s her bat at the top of the order that really justifies allowing her to do so.

“Megan is a competitor and a gamer, and if you saw her playing centerfield, you would have thought she was a normal centerfielder. She runs around out there and then she has got a cannon for an arm, so put her anywhere and she can play. We wanted to get some other kids in and (Denaed) Santini made some real nice plays at short and (Hannah) Kissel at third base, another freshman, outstanding play at third base.”

Santini and Kissel were just more examples of Schuette digging into her tool box on Wednesday night. Schuette also moved Mia Davis from center field to left field for game two, had Hannah Cravens play shortstop for game one and had Tayler Wullenweber and Ashley Bartlett swap in right field for games one and two.

Schuette said these movements are a testament to the depth the roster possesses.

“When anybody can give you a boost on defense, even if it’s just for an inning or an at-bat or a pinch-run it takes some pressure off some of the other kids,” Schuette said. “That’s what we have to keep talking about and keep looking at, not just a loss. There is a lot more to this team than just the surface of a record, and we’re not even talking about that stuff. The depth of this team and the purpose of them, there is a lot more to them than that.”

JJ Bullock can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]