Game Notes
Panther Slap Hits
EIU returns to Williams Field for the first time this season to open Ohio Valley Conference play with doubleheaders against Belmont and Tennessee State this weekend. The Panthers head into conference play sporting a 14-14 record after going 4-6 over spring break.
Last season EIU opened OVC play sweeping UT Martin in a three-game home series. EIU then went on the road dropping their next six games before rallying to eventually earn a No. 2 seed in the OVC tournament with a 17-8 conference record.
Heading in to their first OVC season at EIU, the Panthers are led by freshmen
Mia Davis and
Haley Mitchell. The freshmen duo leads EIU in batting average hitting .372 and .362 respectively. The two have also combined for a quarter of the team's hits and nearly a third of the Panthers' RBIs so far this season.
The Weekend Batting Order
Saturday, Mar. 25 • Belmont
1 pm • Charleston, Ill.
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
TV/Radio:
OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: 4/23/16 (W, 15-3 [5 inn.])
Saturday, Mar. 25 • Belmont
3 pm • Charleston, Ill.
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
TV/Radio:
OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: 4/23/16 (W, 15-3 [5 inn.])
Sunday, Mar. 26 • Tennessee State
12 pm • Charleston, Ill.
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
TV/Radio:
OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: 4/24/16 (W, 4-0)
Sunday, Mar. 26 • Tennessee State
2 pm • Charleston, Ill.
Live Stats:
eiupanthers.com
TV/Radio:
OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: 4/24/16 (W, 4-0)
Last Time Out
EIU closed out spring break playing in their last tournament of the season at Mercer. They went 2-2 in tournament play falling to the host Bears twice.Â
Both
Maria DeVito and
Amber Toenyes recorded at least one hit in each game. Toenyes is currently on an eight-game hitting streak.
Mady Poulter had arguably one of her best games as a Panther against Savannah State. Poulter finished the game 2-for-2 tying her career high with four RBIs and hitting her second career home run.
Panther Rankings
With her three home runs over the past weekend,
Amber Toenyes jumped up to third in the OVC with six home runs so far this year.
Kayla Bear is currently averaging one run scored per game leading the team with 28 runs. Bear is second in the OVC only to UT Martin's Carly Gonzales who has 30 runs this season.
After earning her second save of the season against Eastern Michigan,
Jessica Wireman joined three others to lead the OVC in saves. Wireman is also fourth in the conference with 75 strikeouts so far this season.
Michelle Rogers ranks tenth in the OVC with a season ERA of 2.58. She is also one of five pitchers in the OVC tied for fourth place with eight wins this year.
Scouting The Field
The Panthers take on two foes that they have had plenty of success against in the past. EIU won each game against TSU and Belmont last season, with the Panthers boasting an undefeated 6-0 record against the Bruins. Both Belmont and TSU have games on Wednesday before taking on EIU.
Belmont enters Saturday's doubleheader second in the OVC with a 22-6 record. Chelsey Deloney leads Belmont with 24 RBIs off her OVC-leading 11 home runs this season.
Tennessee State, who also have a doubleheader at SIUE before facing EIU, are 7-15 on the year. The Tigers are led by Selena Crafton who is hitting .354 on the year. Crafton ranks in the top-10 in the OVC for stolen bases and on-base percentage.
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's doubleheaders, the Panthers hit the road for seven games continuing conference play with a doubleheader at Southeast Missouri Saturday (Apr. 1) starting at 1 p.m.
