** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com looks back at 14 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2024-25 academic year. **

A weekend sweep of Western Illinois wrapped up the regular season title and a run scored on a wild pitch handed Eastern Illinois softball its second trip to the NCAA Tournament to highlight the 2025 season.

The Panthers swept a road series at in-state rival WIU to close the 2025 regular season as EIU won its second straight OVC regular season title with a 21-5 record.  It marked the fourth overall OVC regular season championship for the Panthers (2011, 2013, 2024, 2025).

EIU would play as the No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament and after dropping the first Saturday championship game, came back to win the winner-take-all championship game over SIUE scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning for a 1-0 win.

Karlie McKenzie was named the OVC Tournament MVP for the Panthers adding to her regular season first team All-OVC honors.

Kendall Grover was the OVC Player of the Year for the second straight year while McKenzie Oslanzi was the OVC Pitcher of the Year.  Both added first team All-OVC honors joining McKenzie, Karson Davey and Morgan Hance as first team selections.

EIU played in the NCAA Tournament in the Austin, Texas Regional facing eventually NCAA National Champion Texas in the opening round.   EIU was eliminated from the tournament in a loss to UCF.

Overall, the Panthers finished with a 34 win season.

2024-25 Year In Review
No. 14 - EIU Hires Five New Head Coaches
No. 13 – EIU Beach Volleyball Wins First-Ever OVC Tournament Match 
No. 12 - Baseball Wins Longest Game In OVC History
No. 11 - Cooper_Willman Sets EIU Single Game Receiving Record
No. 10 - EIU Inducts Nine Historic Teams Into EIU Hall of Fame 
No. 9 - EIU Wins OVC Sportsmanship Award
No. 8 - EIU Academic Success
No. 7 - Abby.Reinl Named OVC Midfielder Of The Year
No. 6 - EIU Softball Wins Two OVC End Of Year Awards
No. 5 - EIU Basketball Wins Two OVC End Of Year Awards
No. 4 - EIU With Major Award Winners And All-Conference Selections
No. 3 - Abraham Johnson Earns Second Team All-American
No. 2 - EIU Baseball Wins OVC Regular Season Title