Eastern’s depth this season is its pitching.

The Panthers return three pitchers and have added another for the 2008 season, which begins Friday at the Tulsa Tournament in Tulsa, Okla.

Eastern finished 23-31 overall in what could be labeled a disappointing 2007 season that saw the team finish in ninth place in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers were selected to finish eighth in the league this season on Jan. 23.

Junior Kathleen Jacoby and senior Karyn Mackie are the Panthers’ top two pitchers for the third straight year.

Jacoby, more predominantly a power pitcher than Mackie, struggled her sophomore year and finished with a 9-15 record. This year, she looks to repeat the efforts of her freshman season when she compiled a 21-12 record, the most wins by an Eastern pitcher since 1988.

She also sported a 2.36 ERA, had 140 strikeouts and earned Second Team All-OVC honors her freshman year.

“Jacoby’s always been a great competitor,” said Eastern head softball coach Kim Schuette. “She makes the ball move, and I think she’s stronger mentally this year and more confident than last year.”

Mackie said if Jacoby stays strong mentally, the Panthers could win several more games.

Jacoby showed signs of her freshman strikeout prowess by recording 131 her sophomore year. The Marian Catholic graduate enters this year fourth all-time in Eastern history in strikeouts with 271. But control was a factor for her. Jacoby’s walk totals increased from 69 her freshman year to 90 her sophomore year.

“I was out to prove a point (during my freshman season) because a lot of colleges didn’t recruit me,” Jacoby said. “I kind of lost that edge my sophomore year. I just want to establish what kind of pitcher I am.”

Jacoby, whose repertoire mainly comprises a riseball and a screwball, knows what problems she had her sophomore year.

“I was just trying to do a little bit too much,” she said. “You can’t be too uptight. I’ve got to be more relaxed because you can only do so much.”

Jacoby also realized she had to work on the physical aspects of pitching.

“My mechanics were off,” she said. “I kept repeating (the bad things) over and over again. I wasn’t really focused on my motion and my mechanics.”

For Jacoby, it’s been more difficult to come back. She suffered a strained quadriceps muscle in January while she was running.

“I think it was a good thing,” she said. “It kind of set me back. It made me a little bit more humble. It set me back, but it was good in the long run.”

Schuette said Jacoby’s injury has made the junior focus more on her mechanics. “Whenever someone sits out, they appreciate that time a little bit more,” she said. “That’s made her stronger mentally and physically.”

Jacoby and Mackie are tied for seventh all-time in pitching appearances with 78.

Mackie, who relies upon a drop ball and changeup, led the team with wins last season (11). She also had a team-high 2.03 ERA.

“She just pitched,” Jacoby said. “She threw strikes. She just hit her spots. The name of the game is movement. (She) pitches moving the ball and down everywhere.”

Mackie’s progressed each season at Eastern, and her ERA has decreased each season.

Last year’s pitching staff combined for 253 strikeouts, which is second all-time in Eastern program history.

“We all complement each other,” Mackie said.

The third pitcher is senior Ashley Robison. Robison, who was a pitcher in high school, saw limited action last year, and played mostly in the infield.

“Ashley’s always been to known to hit her spots,” Jacoby said. “She’s going to throw the ball inside. She’s going to consistently throw strikes.”

Robison made 16 appearances with four starts. She finished 2-4 and had one save.

Eastern’s fourth pitcher this season is freshman Taylor Lawson. Lawson, at 5 foot, 10 inches, is the team’s tallest pitcher and second tallest player.

Schuette said Lawson has good speed on her pitches but needs to work on ball placement.

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

The Panther’s softball team will be lead by three upper classmen this year with Seniors, Ashley Robinson (Left), Karyn Mackie (Right) and Junior Kathleen Jacoby. (Photo Illustration By: John Bailey)

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