Today’s softball game against Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind., offers up an interesting dynamic for both squads – the players and coaches are familiar with one another.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette played softball for the Sycamores in college, and has known Indiana State head coach Brenda Coldren for many years.

“I think (Sycamore players) know a lot of our girls and our girls know a lot of them,” Schuette said. “I’ve known Brenda a long time. I obviously played at Indiana State and Eastern.”

Even with the familiar faces for Schuette, as a coach, the Indiana State game is just another game and another chance to keep up the momentum after having beaten the Sycamores 3-0 last season.

Senior right fielder Denee’ Menzione has been in the I-70 rivalry for four years and said it has always been a fun one.

“The rivalry has been pretty tough with them,” Menzione said. “They’re right down I-70 so they’re pretty close.”

Similar to Schuette knowing Coldren, Menzione said she has known former Panthers who have known some of the opposing Sycamores.

“Since they’re so close I’ve known past players who have had friends on that team so there’s a little rivalry there too,” Menzione said.

Currently, the Sycamores (16-25, 2-14 in the Missouri Valley Conference) are in last place in the MVC, but Schuette doesn’t consider that bad.

“They play in the Missouri Valley, which is a tough conference,” Schuette said. “I know they’re at the bottom of that conference right now, but those are tough teams in the Valley.”

With eight freshmen on the team, Schuette said the Sycamores have many new players but said Eastern needs to focus on simplifying the game.

“The game is just all about a little yellow ball, hitting the little yellow ball and throwing the little yellow ball,” Schuette said.

From the plate, Menzione said the Panthers’ need to stay focused and be able to figure out the pitch.

“We just have to stay confident at the plate,” Menzione said. “We need to go up there with our hacks, and take a pitch and hit it-pretty easy stuff.”

Menzione hit the ball well last weekend in the OVC series against Tennessee Martin, when she hit two home runs during Saturday’s games.

“I was just seeing the ball. I was just seeing it, seeing it off of the hip and goes with it,” Menzione said.

Schuette said the Panthers (20-21, 10-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference) will use the midweek game against the Sycamores to get appearances from many players on the roster.

“We want to get all three pitchers some innings,” Schuette said. “We want to get hitters confidence with some at-bats and just use the midweek game as extra innings to play.”

The Panthers will play Indiana State today with the first pitch slated to be at 3 p.m. in Terre Haute, Ind.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944

or admcnamee@eiu.edu