CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — The Bellarmine Knights and Eastern Illinois Panthers meet in the opener of a doubleheader Saturday at Coaches Stadium at Monier Field, with both teams looking to build momentum after slow starts to the season.

First pitch is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures near 70 degrees forecast.

The Knights (2-9) enter having lost nine of their last ten, including a 4-6 defeat at Saint Louis on Feb. 28. AJ Swader drove in three runs in that loss. Bellarmine was shut out 8-0 in the other game of that doubleheader and fell 0-8 at Eastern Illinois just Friday.

A bright spot for Bellarmine has been reliever Cade Rusch. The right-hander has not allowed a hit over his last four innings spanning three appearances, striking out seven. He tossed two hitless frames with four strikeouts against Saint Louis on Feb. 28.

The Panthers (4-6) have also struggled recently, dropping their last four contests. That includes a high-scoring 15-20 loss at Northern Kentucky on March 1, where shortstop Peyton Wilson went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Wilson has driven in seven runs over his last five games.

Eastern Illinois’ last win was a 3-2 victory at Arkansas State on Feb. 20.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Eastern Illinois 4, Bellarmine 2.

The two teams will meet again Sunday in Bellarmine’s home opener in Louisville, Kentucky.