Panther Slap Hits
The Panthers are 20-8 on the season as they open OVC play on the road with back-to-back doubleheaders in Nashville, Tenn. EIU will play Belmont Saturday Mar. 24 with game one starting at 12 pm and game two to follow. They will then cross town to play Tennessee State Sunday Mar. 25 with game one set to begin at 1 pm.

Haley Mitchell batted a team-best .727 in last week's play as she leads the team batting .450 on the season. She has 36 hits and 34 RBI on the season to lead EIU. Mitchell, Kayla Bear, and Mady Poulter have recorded eight games with multiple hits. Mitchell was 2-of-4 vs. Texas. Bear was 2-of-3 and Poulter was 3-of-4 vs. Georgetown.

Jessica Wireman recorded her fifth save of the season vs. C-of-C in game two. She is tied for second in the nation with five saves on the season and she is second in the OVC with 100 strikeouts.

The Weekend Batting Order
Saturday, Mar. 24 • Belmont
12 pm • Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats: belmontbruins.com
TV: OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: Mar. 24, 2017 - L, 3-4 and W, 3-1

Saturday, Mar. 24 • Belmont
2 pm • Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats: belmontbruins.com
TV: OVC Digital Network
Last Meeting: Mar. 24, 2017 - L, 3-4 and W, 3-1

Sunday, Mar. 25 • TSU
1 pm • Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats: tsutigers.com
TV: None
Last Meeting: Mar. 26, 2017 -W, 5-3 and W, 9-1

Sunday, Mar. 25 • TSU
3 pm • Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats: tsutigers.com
TV: None
Last Meeting: Mar. 26, 2017 -W, 5-3 and W, 9-1

Scouting the Field
Belmont is 19-4 heading into Saturday's doubleheader and are on a six game winning streak. Five of their last six games have been shutout wins. They defeated Mercer 4-0, Samford 2-0, St. Bonaventure 8-0 and 6-0, and Rhode Island 5-0. Brooklin Lee leads the Bruins on the mound with 108 strikeouts and a 1.18 ERA. She is 10-1 on the season.Jess Andree bats a team best .357 while Bailey Sims has a 28 hits on the season. Lexi Rouse leads Belmont with 21 RBI. Rouse is third in the OVC with seven homers.

Tennessee State is 3-24 and on an eight game losing streak. They open OVC play on Saturday vs. SIUE before facing the Panthers on Sunday. Their three wins came against Drexel, Cornell, and Bowling Green earlier this season. Sarah Snell leads TSU with a batting average of .301, 22 hits, and 11 runs. The Tigers are last in the OVC with a team ERA of 7.25. Lauren Powell is TSU's go to pitcher. She has started 12 games and made 17 appearances with a 4.89 ERA and 49 strikeouts on the season. She is 2-12 on the mound for the Tigers.

Panthers in the Ranks
Mitchell ranks fourth nationally and first in the conference with 34 RBI. She is also first in the OVC with 36 hits, second with eight home runs, and third with a .450 batting average.

Bear ranks in the top five for three categories in the OVC. She's second with 15 stolen bases on 18 attempts, third with 33 hits, and fifth with 23 runs, while Poulter is fourth nationally and first in conference with five triples.

The Panthers rank fourth in the OVC with a team batting average of .284.