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Eastern Illinois (0-0) at Nicholls State (0-0)

Game One | Saturday, Feb. 20, 1:00 p.m.
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Game Two | Saturday, Feb. 20, 4:30 p.m.
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Game Three | Sunday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m.
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Game Notes:

FIRST PITCH OF THE SEASON
Eastern Illinois baseball is back in action after a long offseason to face Nicholls State this weekend. The Panthers return 26 players to the roster and will look to use that experience to their advantage. Nicholls State went 10-8 in the short 2020 season, while the Panthers went 8-6.  

ON THE MOUND
The Panthers are without last year's ace, Will Klein, who was drafted to the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the MLB Draft. The Panthers will start Cameron Doherty, a righty from Scottsdale, Ariz., for Friday's game. Doherty made only one appearance in the 2020 season but made some strides in the offseason and upping his velocity. In Saturday's game, Trevor Nicholson will get his second start as a Panther. The lefty was primarily called on in relief in the few games he appeared in last season. He finished with 13 strikeouts in ten innings pitched last season. Sunday's starter is Ky Hampton. Hampton is a junior college transfer who will try to make his mark in the rotation on Sunday.

THE LINEUP 
Eastern Illinois returns the bulk of its lineup this season including, preseason All-OVC selection Christian Pena and Perfect Games Baseball preseason All-American Trey Sweeney. Sweeney was on a 13-game hitting streak before the season was canceled and had managed 20 hits and 13 RBI early in the season. Along with Sweeney and Pena, Ryan Knernschield comes back as a sturdy and reliable bat for the Panthers. Former freshman All-American, Grant Emme, returns for his third season with the Panthers after being a solid lead-off man for EIU. 

SCOUTING THE COLONELS 
The Colonels are starting Trever Kilcrease in Friday's game to match up against Doherty. Kilcrease started in one game last season, threw 6.1 innings, and ended with an ERA of 1.42. On Saturday, the Colonels will let Chase Gearing take the mound. Gearing is a junior college transfer out of Lansing Community College. Nick Heckman will take to the bump on Sunday's contest. Heckman started four games for the Colonels last season, finished with a 4.42 ERA, and struck out 16 batters. Heckman pitched the fourth-most innings for NSU last season.

UP NEXT 
The Panthers are scheduled to face Arkansas Little-Rock in next weekend's series. The series starts Friday, Feb. 26, at 3 p.m.