Brian Barrett
Eastern utility player Ryan Ignoffo (7) high fives his teammates after the Panthers’ 3-2 win over McNeese State on March 18. The Panthers won the series to improve to 13-4 on the season.
The Eastern baseball team was selected to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason poll as it will begin its regular season on Friday in Tallahassee, Fl at 3 p.m.
The Panthers will play Florida A&M in a three-game series.
Last season, the Panthers had a historic 30-win season, winning 33 games overall and ending the season 12-12 in the OVC. It was their first 30 plus win season since 2001.
In the 2022 OVC Tournament, the Panthers came in as the fourth seed, their highest seeding since the 2020 season, and they were knocked out by the fifth-seeded SIUE Cougars in the first round.
The 2023 OVC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish is as follows:
Southeast Missouri (16 first-place votes)
Morehead State
Eastern Illinois
Little Rock
Tennessee Tech
SIUE
UT Martin
Southern Indiana
Lindenwood
Senior utility player Ryan Ignoffo and Sophomore infielder Chris Worcester were selected to the Preseason All-OVC team.
Ignoffo was named to the 2022 First Team All-OVC following his performance during the 2022 season. He led the Panthers with a .395 batting average, 73 doubles, 14 home runs, and 58 RBIs.
He ranked second in the OVC in batting average and 17th nationally.
Worcester was OVC Freshman of the Year last season as he ranked third on the team in batting average with a .320. He finished the season with 49 hits, eight doubles, and 29 RBIs.
The 2023 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Team is as follows:
Lucas McNew – Southern Indiana
C Hayden Gilland – Tennessee Tech
1B Jackson Feltner – Morehead State
2B Nick Gooden – Morehead State
SS Chirs Worcester – Eastern Illinois
3B Josh Ohl – SIUE
OF Brett Graber – Southeast Missouri
OF Brennan Orf – SIUE
OF Jevon Mason – Southeast Missouri
DH Brady Bunten – SIUE
UT Ryan Ignoffo – Eastern Illinois
SP John Bakke – Morehead State
SP Peyton Calitir – Tennessee Tech
SP Jackson Wells – Little Rock
SP Eric Steensma – UT Martin
RP Kyle Miller – Southeast Missouri
Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or acschulz@eiu.edu