Eastern Illinois (38-19) at Vanderbilt (41-18)
Friday - June 2 @ 7:00 p.m. CT
SEC Network - NCAA Regional
Hawkins Field - Nashville, Tenn.
Live Stats |
Watch on SEC Network (link to ESPN+ online)
Other Regional Teams
Oregon (37-20)
Xavier (37-23)
EIU Regional Game Notes | Vanderbilt Regional Home Page
WEEKEND NOTES TO KNOW
- Eastern Illinois baseball closed the regular season on a seven game win streak heading into the Ohio Valley Conference where they entered as the No. 5 seeded team. EIU won five of six games at the OVC Tournament and have won 12 of their last 13 heading into the NCAA Regional.
- Eastern Illinois has won a school record 38 games this season as the Panthers head to their third NCAA Division I Regional Tournament. EIU has 12 all-time seasons with 30 or more wins including five with 35 or more (36 in 1976, 36 in 1981, 37 in 1998, 35 in 2001, 38 in 2023). The 71 wins over the past two seasons are most in a two-year span in program history as EIU has put together four straight winning seasons.
- Eastern Illinois was tabbed to finish third in the preseason OVC poll and finished the regular season in fifth place, just one game out of second place with a jumbled finish of three teams in second through fourth place.
- Eastern Illinois will be making its third NCAA Regional appearance in the Panthers NCAA Division I history. EIU previously has made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 1999. The 2008 Regional was played in Lincoln, Nebraska with EIU losing both games. The 1999 Regional was played in Waco, Texas, with EIU going 1-2 with a win over Arizona.
- Eastern Illinois had eight post-season appearances as a NCAA Division II/College Division member and NAIA member prior to joining the Division I ranks. Among those eight post-season appearances were four College World Series appearances with the Panthers placing 2nd in 1981, 5th in 1978, 3rd in 1973 all at the Division II/College Division. EIU made an NAIA World Series appearance in 1964.
- Eastern Illinois placed three players on the Ohio Valley Conference first team this year with
Ryan Ignoffo (Utility), Ky Hampton (Starting Pitcher) and
Zane Robbins (Relief Pitcher). Catcher
Grant Lashure was named to the OVC second team.
- Senior
Ryan Ignoffo was named one of five finalists for the John Olerud two-way Player of the Year. He was joined on the list by Jac Caglianone (Florida),T.J. Fondtain (San Diego State), Caden Grice (Clemson) and Payton Tolle (Wichita State).
