PANTHERS at AUBURN TIGER INVITATIONAL | Tourney Schedule (PDF)
vs. WU	9:45 a.m. | Fri., Feb. 13, 2015 | Moore Field | Auburn, Ala. | Live Stats
vs. MU	2:30 p.m. | Fri., Feb. 13, 2015 | Auburn City Complex | Auburn, Ala. | Live Stats
vs. GSU	Noon | Sat., Feb. 14, 2015 | Auburn City Complex | Auburn, Ala. | Live Stats
at #17-AU	5:15 p.m. | Sat., Feb. 14, 2015 | Moore Field | Auburn, Ala. | Live Stats | Live Video
vs. BSU	9:45 a.m. | Sun., Feb. 15, 2015 | Moore Field | Auburn, Ala. | Live Stats
Coverage	Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
EIU info	2-3 Overall | News | Roster | Schedule | Statistics
WU info	3-2 Overall | Website
MU info	4-1 Overall | Website
GSU info	0-0 Overall (30-26 / 12-9 Sunbelt in 2014) | Website
#17-AU info	6-0 Overall | Website
BSU info	3-1 Overall | Website

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- After opening the 2015 campaign last weekend, Eastern Illinois softball returns to action at the upcoming three-day Auburn Tiger Invitational, as the Panthers are set to face Winthrop, Mercer, Georgia State, Ball State, and the #17-ranked host Tiger squad.

Due to expected colder temperatures in the Auburn, Alabama area, the tourney schedule has been changed slightly, which includes a second site for a pair of games that will feature the Panthers, so as to keep all action during the daylight hours.

EIU opens the tourney on Friday versus Winthrop at 9:45 a.m., followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup against Mercer.  Then on Saturday, Eastern will take on Georgia State at noon, before facing the host team at 5:15 in the nightcap.  Final Panther action on Sunday will feature a 9:45 a.m. game versus Ball State.

WEEKEND PANTHER SCHEDULE
at Auburn Tiger Invitational (in Auburn, Ala.)...
  Fri., Feb. 13 ... vs. Winthrop ... 9:45 a.m. ... AU's Moore Field
                     ... vs. Mercer ... 2:30 p.m. ... Auburn City Complex
  Sat., Feb. 14 ... vs. Georgia State ... Noon ... Auburn City Complex
                      ... at #17-Auburn ... 5:15 p.m. ... AU's Moore Field
  Sun., Feb. 15 ... vs. Ball State ... 9:45 a.m. ... AU's Moore Field

QUOTING HEAD COACH ANGIE NICHOLSON
Entering her second season as skipper of the Panthers, Angie Nicholson owns a 15-year career coaching mark of 387-284-1, while also posting a 268-202-1 record as an NCAA DI coach.  Last spring, Nicholson led the Panthers to a 38-17 overall and 17-7 Ohio Valley Conference record as EIU finished the season in third place in the league standings and advanced to the OVC tourney.

"We are looking forward to seeing some more great softball this weekend," said Nicholson.  "Auburn is quickly moving up in the ranks both in the SEC and nationally, so they will be a powerhouse on every side of the ball.

"The rest of the teams in the tournament include some higher level mid-major teams," she continued, "who also have a tradition of success, so it should be another solid weekend of competition and growth for us.

"We spent the last couple of days working on some of the small things that we needed to clean up from last weekend's opener," Nicholson added.  "We will look to come out more aggressive defensively in order to clean things up on that end, while also continuing to attack at the plate."

QUICK LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
Last weekend Eastern went 2-3 overall to open the season, winning both contests against Incarnate Word by respective scores of 6-1 and 7-4.  The three losses came against #19-LSU (6-1), and a pair of five-inning losses at #9-Louisiana (16-0 and 9-0).

Sophomore Amber Toenyes led all Panthers with five RBIs last weekend off a .462 bat.  She drilled a pair of two-run homers in the first victory over the Cardinals of UIW and earned 12 total bases over the course of five games.  She also led the EIU defense with 18 putouts

Senior Bailey O'Dell also went .462 at the plate and earned 10 assists at shortstop, as she tied Toenyes with six total hits and joined junior transfer Katie Watson with a pair of doubles.  Watson also picked up two stolen bases for the Panthers.

In the circle, freshman Jessica Wireman went 1-2 overall, behind a 4.12 ERA, as she led the EIU strikeout tally with nine Ks, and also earning a save.  Classmate Michelle Rogers finished with an even 1-1 record behind a 5.73 ERA and five strikeouts and just three walks.

As a team, Eastern is hitting .246, as compared to .363 for the opposition.  The opponents also lead the Panthers in runs, hits, RBI, and stolen bases.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
WINTHROP enters the weekend at 3-2, which includes a win over Illinois and a split versus fellow Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State.  Sutton Watson sports 15 Ks and a 1-1 mark in the circle, while Maddie Antone's .471 bat mark paces her squad off a pair of homers and five RBI.

Owning a 4-1 early-season record, MERCER split versus OVC power Jacksonville State at their own tourney last weekend, including winning the championship game.  Kirsten Stevens' 2-0 mark leads the pitching staff as she has 14 Ks and just one walk to her credit this season.  The Mercer squad lead their opposition in nearly ever stat category with Natalie Shiver, Riley Carter and Kaylynn Sloat all with two bombs, as Shiver and Carter both own seven RBIs and respective .538 and .500 batting averages.

The Panthers of GEORGIA STATE, meanwhile, will open the 2015 slate at this weekend's tourney.  Last season, GSU finished 30-26 overall and 12-9 in the Sunbelt Conference.

Sporting a perfect 6-0 mark, the host AUBURN squad enters the weekend with a #17-rank as the Tigers won all six of their games last weekend in five-inning routs.  Lexi Davis leads the Tiger pitching corp with a 3-0 mark, 2.80 ERA and 11 strikeouts, while also holding the opposition to a .211 hitting average.  Emily Carosone and Kasey Cooper are both hitting over .600 on the early season, while Haley Fagan's 12 RBIs leads her squad as three of her seven hits have come via the long ball.

Prior to the weekend play, BALL STATE sits at 3-1 in the early-going, with a trio of pitchers all sporting wins.  Jocelyn Rivera has ten Ks and held the opposition to a low .097 bat, while Nicole Steinbach's 2.79 ERA leads the way as she tallied nine strikeouts.  Hanne Studemann's .462 plate mark leads her team as she has scored six times.  Sammi Cowger and Emily Dabkowski own eight and seven RBI numbers with Cowger having delivered two homers and Dabkowski pacing the base runners with a perfect 3-for-3 mark in stolen bases.

PANTHERS RANKED IN OVC TOP 10
Amber Toenyes currently ranks in the OVC Top 10 for overall home runs (2/T-2nd), total bases (12/T-5th) and slugging % (.923/5th).  Bailey O'Dell also owns a Top 10 mark for slugging % (.846/8th).

Pitching-wise, Jessica Wireman ranks in innings pitched (18.2/2nd), appearances (4/2nd), games started (3/1st), and saves (1/T-1st).

EIU PICKED SEVENTH IN OVC
EIU softball has been predicted to finish seventh out of 12 OVC squads this coming 2015 season, as was announced by the league office on Jan. 21.  Defending OVC tourney champion SIU Edwardsville is the overwhelming preseason favorite, followed by perrenial power Jacksonville State in second place.  Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech all finished just ahead of the Panthers in the poll, while EIU did out-poll fellow league foes Morehead State, Belmont, Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri, and Tennessee State in the final rankings.

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS
Following this weekend's action, the Panthers will next compete at the three-day Western Kentucky hilltopper Spring Fling on Feb. 20-22.  EIU are set to take on the hosts Ohio and Saint Louis, while also battling IUPUI twice.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID