Senior Katy Steele still remembers being thrown out at home plate last year in one of the two losses to Illinois.

Today, she will have her chance for revenge.

The Indiana native, however, said she doesn’t relate to the Illinois rivalry all that well and for her, is looking to just keep the team’s current two-game win streak alive.

“I didn’t even know our game Tuesday was against Illinois until today,” Steele said. “We had two good wins the last two games and we got to win a lot of games to get into the conference tournament.”

U of I defeated Schuette both times they faced her, but that was at Illinois.

The Panthers finished third last season in the OVC.

Eastern is ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Illinois is fifth in the Big-Ten with a 7-5 conference record and blank overall.

Despite the Big-Ten status, the players do not believe to be underdogs, and look at facing Illinois as facing any other team.

“I think any team we can beat on any day,” junior Ashley Robison said. “Some days fly balls fall and it’s anyone’s game any given day. It doesn’t matter what team you’re facing.”

For Eastern, beating Illinois means an extra push of momentum for conference team Austin Peay this weekend. But even if the Panthers don’t pull it out, Robinson at least won’t consider the loss a disappointment.

“Any game you play will help us in some way,” she said. “Win or lose, it’s good experience for us.”

Softball alumnus Rachel Karos agreed with this theory in that even though Illinois is in the Big-Ten, it’s the type of game the team has nothing to lose since it’s not conference play.

Unlike this year, Eastern went to U of I on a five-game losing streak, a streak that continued with two close losses to Illinois. Yet, following the seven-game losing streak, EIU went on a seven-game win streak.

“We got hot at this point last year,” said junior Robyn Mackie.

Mackie, who also says the series is not really a rivalry for her, is looking forward to this weekend against Austin Peay and says that whatever happens against Illinois, happens.

Head coach Kim Schuette recalls the two losses last year and said the Eastern-Illinois rivalry is always fun.

“Don’t want to be an Illinois shadow,” said Schuette. “You want to win every game you play and this will be a good test for us.”

Sophomore pitcher Kathleen Jacoby throws the ball to first base trying to make a play. Third baseman Allyson Nolte backs her up during Eastern’s 4-3 win against Morehead State on Sunday afternoon. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)