PANTHERS at AUSTIN PEAY, MOREHEAD STATE & EASTERN KENTUCKY
at APSU	3 p.m. | Wed., March 18, 2015 | Holt Field | Clarksville, Tenn. | Live Stats
	5 p.m. (approx.) | Wed., March 18, 2015 | Holt Field | Clarksville, Tenn. | Live Stats
at APSU	Noon | Thu., March 19, 2015 | Holt Field | Clarksville, Tenn. | Live Stats
at MOR	Noon | Sat., March 21, 2015 | University Field | Morehead, Ky. | Live Stats
	2 p.m. (approx.) | Sat., March 21, 2015 | University Field | Morehead, Ky. | Live Stats
at EKU	Noon | Sun., March 22, 2015 | Hood Field | Richmond, Ky. | Live Stats
	2 p.m. (approx.) | Sun., March 22, 2015 | Hood Field | Richmond, Ky. | Live Stats
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EIU info	5-11 Overall / 0-0 OVC | News | Roster | Schedule | Statistics
APSU info	1-12 Overall / 0-0 OVC | Website
MOR info	6-10 Overall / 0-0 OVC | Website
EKU info	11-12 Overall / 2-0 OVC | Website

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois softball returns to action in earnest this week as the Panthers open Ohio Valley Conference play with seven scheduled games over five days, which includes a mid-week series at Austin Peay plus a pair of weekend twinbills at Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.

The EIU/APSU series, which was pushed back from last weekend due to field conditions and inclement weather, has been altered yet again as more rain may be in the mix on Thursday.  So the Panthers and Lady Govs will now play a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday, followed by a noon Thursday single game.

The Panthers enter the league-openers with a 5-11 overall early-season record, yet have lost eight of their last ten contests.  APSU, meanwhile, sports just a 1-12 mark heading into their own home opener, with the lone victory coming in the first game of the season.

The Eagles and Colonels, meanwhile, currently own respective 6-10 (0-0 OVC) and 11-12 (2-0 OVC) records.

PANTHER SCHEDULE THIS WEEK (OVC OPENERS)
Wednesday, March 18...
... EIU at Austin Peay (2) ... 3 p.m. / 5 p.m. (approx.)
Thursday, March 19...
... EIU at Austin Peay ... Noon

Saturday, March 21...
... EIU at Morehead State (2) ... Noon / 2 p.m. (approx.) - times CDT
Sunday, March 22...
... EIU at Eastern Kentucky (2) ... Noon / 2 p.m. (approx.) - times CDT

QUICK LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
At 5-11 overall, the Panthers have not played since March 8, as EIU dropped a pair of games in Sunday play at the Kennesaw State Tourney down in Georgia.

Senior shortstop Bailey O'Dell currently paces EIU with a .385 batting average, as she has 20 total hits, including a pair of doubles and a team-best five home runs.  She also sports 13 runs and 13 RBIs, which are also tops on the squad.  While defensively, her 30 assists also lead the Panthers.

Classmate Hannah Cole follows with a .356 bat behind 16 hits and 10 runs, as she ties junior April Markowski with five doubles.  The catcher/utility player has 11 RBI while sporting four homers of her own.

Junior transfer Katie Watson leads the EIU base runners with a 2-for-3 stolen base mark as she has scampered around the bases to score seven times.

Team-wise, EIU is hitting .261 on the year, while leading the opposition in doubles (24-to-15), but trailing in the rest of the stat categories.

In the circle, two freshman have seen significant play with Michelle Rogers sporting an even 3-3 mark behind 49.2 innings of work.  She has fanned 32 total batters, walked 13 and owns a 4.23 ERA, , while holding her batters to a .307 average..  Classmate Jessica Wireman sits at 2-7 yet also has registered a save this season off 39 innings of play and tallying 24 Ks, and 13 walks.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
AUSTIN PEAY, sitting at just 1-12 overall this season, is led on the field by senior infielder Lauren Burroughs' .353 bat and perfect 6-for-6 base theft mark.  She has 12 total hits, with a pair of doubles and a ties sophomore Christiana Gable with four home runs.  Gable's 14 RBI total ranks best on her squad while she is hitting .306 and has scored ten times.  Pitching-wise, five different players have seen action in the circle with junior Natalie Ayala earning the lone win off a team-best 7.82 ERA, 11 strikeouts and 31.1-innings of work.  In team stats, opponents are hitting .426 against the Lady Govs which includes 60 extra-base shots thus far this spring.

Prior to hosting Pikeville in a mid-week twinbill MOREHEAD STATE owns a 6-10 overall mark and recently had their OVC-openers versus league power Jacksonville State cancelled, yet have still won three of their last four contests.  A trio of Eagles are currently hitting over .300 on the season, led by junior Dana Hutchins' .366 mark, while freshman Lindsay Ward owns a team-best 12 RBI tally and is one of three players with at least two homers.  Three pitchers have seen action for MSU, with newcomer Mackenzie Grossmann owning a 3-3 overall record behind 51.1-innings of work, 34 Ks, a .214 opponent batting average, and 3.00 ERA.  Team-wise, the Eagles and their opponents are both hitting .273 yet the Eagles lead in overall hits and double numbers.

Having already opened OVC play with a two-game sweep of Belmont, EASTERN KENTUCKY sits at 11-12 overall and 2-0 in early-season league action, as the Colonels will host SIUE twice on Saturday prior to entertaining the Panthers.  Junior Kayla Joyce is the lone EKU player hitting over .300 on the spring as she sports a .309 batting average behind 21 hits.  Newcomer Sarah Jackson leads with 17 RBI , including a team-best four base-clearing shots over the fence.  Sophomore Kristlyn Campos and freshman Johnkyria Alston each have five doubles, while fellow newcomer Paige Murphy is a threat on base with her team-best 5-for-6 mark in stolen bases.  Seniors Shaylon Robb and Leanna Pittsenbarger have shared time in the circle with Robb owning a .287 ERA behind a 5-3 mark, while Pittsenbarger sports an impressive 60 total strikeouts.

PANTHERS IN OVC TOP TEN
Team-wise, EIU currently ranks No. 8 and No. 9 for pitching (5.57 ERA) and batting (.261 BA), respectively, while also sitting No. 8 in fielding (.958).

Individually, O'Dell ranks 4th in homeruns (5), 7th in slugging % (.712) and 9th for total bases (37), while Cole sits 5th in slugging % (.733) and 10th in on-base % (.453).  In pitching numbers, Rogers is 7th for games started (9).

UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS
Following this busy week of play, the Panthers will finally open the home slate on March 28-29, as EIU is set to entertain the Racers of Murray State in a three-game series at Williams Field.  A 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday will be followed by a Sunday singles game, also with a 1 p.m. first pitch.  The weekend series also begins a season-best seven-game homestand.

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