* Turn Back Tuesday will be a new feature on the EIUpanthers.com website that will revisit some of the memorable moments in Eastern Illinois Panther athletic history. *
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May 16, 1981 - Eastern Illinois baseball defeats Nebraska-Omaha twice on one day in Omaha to win the Great Lakes Regional and punch its ticket to the NCAA Division II World Series. The Panthers won four straight games at the Regional after losing their opener to Lewis.
At the DII World Series in Riverside, Calif., EIU finishes as the runner-up to Florida Southern. Again the Panthers lose their opener, this time to Troy State, but rattle off three straight wins to reach the championship game.
The 1981 team featured eight players that were either drafted by or signed with a Major League Baseball organization. Tim Pyznarski and Kevin Seitzer both reached the Major Leagues. Pyznarski's single-season EIU records set in 1981 still stand: home runs (22), RBIs (78) and runs scored (66). He also batted .443 (77-for-174) that season. Seitzer batted .412 (70-for-170) as a freshman.
Eastern Illinois 1981 Postseason Results
NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional (Omaha, Neb.)
EIU 4, Lewis 14
EIU 9, Central Missouri 2
EIU 7, Lewis 5
EIU 8, Nebraska-Omaha 5
EIU 14, Nebraska-Omaha 14
NCAA Division II World Series (Riverside, Calif.)
EIU 3, Troy State 12
EIU 7, Le Moyne (N.Y.) 5
EIU 8, Troy State 3
EIU 3, Cal State-Northridge 2
EIU 0, Florida Southern 9
1981 Panthers Team Picture
Front Row (L-R): Neal Bertram, Tom Detmer, Jim Workman, Kevin Seitzer, Brian Jones and Dean Vaughn. Middle Row (L-R): Bill Law, Matt Cimo, Bryan Dillard, Marshall Crutcher, Gerry Schlechte, Bill Morton, Rich Lambert, Paul Saikia, Brad Yakos and GA coach Paul Kastner. Back Row (L-R): Mike Antonini, Randy Weibel, Tim Pyznarski, Elliott Skorupa, team manager Curt Nisbet, Rich Wager, Steve French, Ken Polarek, Gordon Smith, Lenny Lundberg, Rich Koenig, Jeff Yocum and head coach Tom McDevitt.
Players on the 1981 team that were drafted or signed
1981: Tim Pyznarski (A's), Elliott Skorupa (Expos) & Randy Weibel (Expos)
1982: Matt Cimo (Giants) & Tom Detmer (Cardinals)
1983: Kevin Seitzer (Indians) & Bill Morton (Phillies)
1984: Brian Jones (Pirates)
