Playing must-win games might become a bit old for the Eastern Illinois Panthers baseball team.
After finishing fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference, EIU had to win three straight games, including a 6-5 win over regular-season champion Morehead State to win the conference tourney and earn a bid into the NCAA tournament.
The Panthers reward for the upset? A date with the No. 6 national seed Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville. But considering their season was on the brink, Eastern Illinois would have welcomed playing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field if it meant continuing the season.
EIU enters the NCAA Tournament with a 38-19 overall record and the 38 wins ranking as the most in program history. EIU’s previous two trips to the NCAA Tournament were in 1999 at the Waco Regional (hosted by Baylor) and 2008 at the Lincoln Regional (hosted by Nebraska). The Panthers are 1-4 all-time in the tourney.
Eastern Illinois placed three players on the Ohio Valley Conference first team this year with utility player Ryan Ignoffo (.336, 15 homers, 59 runs batted in), starting pitcher Ky Hampton (7-2, 4.33 earned run average) and closer Zane Robbins (seven saves, 1.38 ERA).
Ignoffo also pitches and was named as one of the top 5 two-way players in the country with his 4.71 ERA and four saves.
The Panthers and Commodores play Friday at 4 pm PST and will be live on the SEC Network.