Tweet #WinTheMoment

Head coach Jason Anderson has announced the addition of eight new players that will join the Panthers baseball roster following the NCAA's early signing period, which opened in November. Set to join EIU next season are James Love, Nate George, Jake Ottensmeier, Devan Tupper, Chase Bays, Brandon Schultz, Graham Kasey, and Ty Anderson. 

James Love is an infielder from Joliet, Illinois. He is a four-year varsity starter at Joliet West High School, where he is chasing the school hit and RBI records. Love is a two-time All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection. He plays club baseball for Top Tier South. 

Nate George is an outfielder from Channahon, Illinois. He hit nine home runs for Minooka High School last season and was a class 4A All-State selection. George was also named to the All-Southwest Prairie Conference team, as well as to the Herald News and Morris Daily Herald All-Area team. His club team is Top Tier South. 

Jake Ottensmeier is an outfielder and will make his way to Eastern from Highland, Illinois. As a junior at Highland High School, he had a batting average of .457 and was a class 3A All-State selection. Ottensmeier has 119 career hits and is a two-time All-Mississippi Valley Conference selection. He plays club ball for the Gateway Bruins. 

Devan Tupper is a pitcher from Bloomington, Illinois. The righty attends Normal University High School and plays for the Chicago Elite Club team. Last summer, Tupper had an ERA of 0.795 in 18 innings of work. He recorded 24 strikeouts to six walks while allowing just a .150 batting average against. 

Chase Bays is an infielder from Edwardsburg, Michigan. As a junior, he hit .445, batted in 17 runs, and recorded three homers for Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. His performance earned All-Northern Indiana Conference honors. Bays is a member of the Landsharks club team. 

Brandon Schultz is an outfielder from Buffalo Grove, Illinois. He helped lead Adlai E Stevenson High School to 30 wins and a sectional championship in 2023. Schultz was an All-North Suburban Conference Honorable Mention after recording a batting average of .387 along with 33 RBI and 23 stolen bases. His club team is Top Tier Americans. 

Graham Casey is a pitcher and the lone JUCO prospect in this class. The Windsor, Illinois native started 12 games for Kankakee Community College as a freshman last season. He pitched a total of 66 innings, recording a 4.46 ERA and 54 strikeouts. The lefty also played for the Normal Cornbelters in the Prospect League last summer. In six starts, Casey pitched 33.1 innings while recording a 3.51 ERA and 33 strikeouts. 

Ty Anderson is a right-handed pitcher from Westfield, Indiana. In 2023, he was 5-1 with a 1.12 ERA on the mound for Westfield High School. He was named to the All-County team, as well as to the All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference first team. Anderson's club team is the Indiana Bulls. 

EIU made its third NCAA Regional last spring, winning a school-record 38 games.