Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Sports

Senior infielder Sarah Coppert swings at a pitch during the home game against Indiana State on Wednesday afternoon at Williams Field. (Eric Hiltner / The Daily Eastern News)

Playing softball in Charleston in mid-March is not ideal for the Eastern softball team, but that is the schedule the team was dealt.

The Panthers will try to get in all three games as they open up Ohio Valley Conference play against Tennessee State today and Saturday.

A doubleheader was scheduled for 4 p.m. today and a single game at noon on Saturday, but because of weather the schedule was changed.

The Panthers play the Lady Tigers (8-8) at p.m. in a single game today at Williams Field and play a doubleheader at noon at Williams Field.

Every season the Panthers (10-7) battle with TSU. Eastern defeated the Lady Tigers 3-2 and 2-1 last season and dropped a 5-1 decision last season.

In 2007, Eastern won 3-1 and 1-0 and lost a 3-1 decision at Williams Field. Eastern also posted two 3-2 wins in 2006 , but dropped a 7-0 decision.

TSU's pitching lineup looks entirely different from a season ago.

While the Panthers and the rest of the conference saw Amanda Vaught as TSU's main pitcher, sophomore Caitlin Eaton (5-3) is carrying the load for the Lady Tigers.

Easton posts a 2.87 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. Eaton also leads her team at the plate. She is hitting .429 and leads the team with five home runs.

Eaton threw a perfect game against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis on Feb. 20 in a shortened five-inning game in an 8-0 win for the Lady Tigers. Eaton struck out seven.

Eastern's success in the past three seasons in the OVC has been the ability to win close games.

Eastern went 12-9 in OVC play, but posted an 8-3 record in OVC play in one-run games. In the past three seasons overall, Eastern has posted a 37-18 record in one-run games. Plus the Panthers have already posted a 5-3 record in one-run games this season.

After TSU, the Panthers will play 2008 NCAA Tournament participant, Drake at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader at home on Tuesday. The Panthers will head to Indianapolis to play IUPUI at noon a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Panthers return to OVC action when they host Tennessee Martin on March 21 and March 22 at Williams Field. They play the Skyhawks at 1 p.m. on March 21 and noon on March 22.


Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.

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