Eastern softball is currently in ninth place in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference. Despite the lackluster play, however, the team is optimistic to turn things around – and quickly.

The only team in the conference Eastern has a winning record against right now is Tennessee State.

The Panthers won two of three games against the Lady Tigers in a home series in late March.

Where Eastern has struggled, though, is on the road. The Panthers are 1-7 in conference road games. Last year, the Panthers were 4-4 through their first eight OVC games.

The women only have one win on the road in OVC match-ups, something head coach Kim Schuette contributes to not yet putting together a full game.

“We haven’t put together a full seven-inning game yet,” Schuette said. “For a while we were struggling with our offense; then we went on an error streak, and yesterday, we had problems with our pitchers.”

On Monday, Eastern split their away trip with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, with second game starter Kathleen Jacoby having a tough outing, giving up three homeruns and six earned.

Eastern (15-20, 3-8 OVC) still has 15 conference games left this semester, with a home double header against Southeast Missouri (10-17, 4-5) today.

But Schuette wants to start winning now.

“No matter if we make it to the tournament or not, we have to start winning,” Schuette said. “As a coach, you always want to win two out of three, so we’ll have to do some things and get some wins against SEMO.”

Only the top six teams make the conference tournament.

Sophomore outfielder Angela Danca said she thinks some people need to step up now and take on a leader role.

This would help get the team more focused and motivated to win every game, Danca added.

Danca said Schuette is working with the team to become more aggressive and intense.

“Well I would say there’s a little, but I’m not so sure I would call it pressure,” Danca said. “I just think its reality. If we want to win games and want to be at the OVC tournament in a few weeks, we just need to win some games. Need to really come together as a team and pull out some wins.”

Junior first baseman Robyn Mackie said this past weekend was the first time in a while that the team played for the “love of the game.” She said the team’s been kind of down lately.

“We all wear rubber bands around our wrists and it acts like we’re a circle,” Mackie said. “It’s kind of stupid, but it motivates us.”

For their game against SEMO, Mackie is going to take to Schuette’s advice.

“She tells us that every inning is a battle and that we need to keep our heads in the game for the entire game,” Mackie said.

Kim Schuette, head coach of the women’s softball team, speaks to her players about unnecessary pressure during practice on Feb. 27 in O’Brien stadium: “There is nobody out here beside you,” Schuette explained. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

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