Eastern Illinois softball added five players as part of the Panthers 2025-26 signing class as the NCAA November signing period opened on Wednesday (Nov. 12).
Head coaches
Kristi Paulson and
Dan Paulson announced the addition of Aubrey Vogel, Regan Cooper, Danicah Tobin, Kayla Chisholm and Colleen Fitzpatrick set to the join the EIU roster next season.
The Panthers won both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles last year making the school's second NCAA Tournament appearance. Over the last three years EIU has won two OVC regular season titles and made two NCAA Tournaments.
Vogel (Petersburg, Illinois) played softball at PORTA High School while playing travel softball for TBSA Wahoos. She earned varsity letters playing both softball and basketball at PORTA. She earned first team All-Sangamo Conference honors as a junior after second team honors her sophomore year and honorable mention accolades as a freshman. She also added first team All-Conference honors in basketball during her junior season. In the classroom she is National Honor Society member while earning high honors.
Cooper (Avon, Indiana) played softball at Avon High School while playing travel softball for Indiana Gators 18U Meyer. She was a multiple sport athlete earning varsity letters in softball and volleyball. She was named a first team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection as a junior earning second team honors earlier in her career. She has helped her teams win four sectional championships and regional championships.
Tobin (Mount Vernon, Illinois) played softball at Mount Vernon Township High School while playing travel softball for Missouri Bombers '08 Gold Hankins. On the diamond she was twice named a second team All-State selection while earning SICA All-South honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She was twice named a first team All-South Seven Conference selection. In the classroom she has been a multiple time honor roll selection.
Chisholm (Scotts, Michigan) played softball at Vicksburg High School while playing travel softball for Hurricanes Fastpitch and Turnin 2. In addition to varsity letters in softball she also was a member of the cross country and volleyball teams. She helped lead her team to the MHSAA state finals as a freshman and sophomore with district and regional championships in those two years. She began her career as a catcher earning first team All-Wolverine Conference honors behind the plate and All-Region honors. She moved to shortstop as a junior and earned All-Conference honors at that position. She was named a team captain for all three varsity sports and team MVP for both softball and cross country. In the classroom she is a National Honor Society member earning AP Scholar Award.
Fitzpatrick (Omro, Wisconsin) played softball at Oshkosh West High School while playing travel softball for the Beverly Bandits. She was a four-time varsity letter winner in softball while earning two letters in basketball and one in tennis She earned first team All-Fox Valley Association honors as a junior and honorable mention All-District honors. She helped lead the team to a State Tournament appearance as a freshman and regional championship as a sophomore. Fitzpatrick added honorable mention All-Conference honors as a freshman and second team accolades as a sophomore. A 3.9 student in the classroom she is a National Honor Society member and was named Academic All-State for basketball. She hails from an athletic family with relatives Howard Judson playing professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds along with relatives Paul Judson, Phil Judson and Rob Judson all playing basketball at Illinois.
