The softball team opens up its spring season Thursday, hosting the University of Illinois at Williams Field in a doubleheader at 4:30 p.m.

After months of off-season work, the team will use Thursday’s game to prepare for future tournaments in California and Hawaii.

“We’ve worked on the fundamentals indoors with reps with the bats, defense, fielding balls, and sometimes it feels monotonous,” head coach Lloydene Searle said. “That is the mental part of the season and we need to make sure it will translate in success on the field.

“They look forward to going outside. We usually don’t schedule this early, but because we’re headed to warmer weather, we’ve got to get some games under our belt.”

Eastern will travel to the University of the Pacific for a doubleheader March 14 before competing in the Cal State Capital Classic in California March 15-18. The team will then follow that tournament with the Hawaii Tournament March 22-25.

“We’re right at the point where we need a game and it’s hard to do in the fieldhouse, even in a scrimmage,” Searle said. “If we can get in these first two games (against Illinois), we’ll get out the first game jitters.”

Illinois will bring a young team to Eastern, with just one senior and one junior to lead the 17 freshmen. The Fighting Illini’s first softball program is led by head coach Terri Sullivan.

“They are a young program and a young team, but we match up pretty well in that way,” Searle said. “They have good athleticism and they’ve already had some games which proved themselves.

“They are not going to be chomping at the bit like we are,” Searle said. “They’ve already had some games and they are led by a good coach.”

Illinois has already established an 11-5 record, finishing 6-0 in the Sam Houston Tournament, 3-3 in the Triangle Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C., and 2-2 in the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.

“How hard we worked in the off-season will show on Thursday night,” Searle said.

The competition against Illinois will prepare the Panthers for the game experience in California next week.

“We’re fortunate to get a few games in before California and we need that to build confidence and be able to make corrections to be successful,” Searle said. “It’s very important to have games under our belt. California will help in the Hawaii tournament.”

While losing four key seniors in Adrienne Noll, Julie Fonda, Sara DeLaere and Lindsay Klockenga, the team has picked up in the off-season to add eight new players to the line-up.

“We’re a good contact-hitting team and we have a stronger pitching staff,” Searle said. “In all aspects, there are good prospects. We’re young and we’re looking at freshmen and sophomores to pitch.

“We’re going to be calling on Kristen (Becker) as a veteran with only one year behind her.”

The sophomore will be returning to the mound after posting second team all-Ohio Valley honors in her debut at Eastern.

With seniors Melissa Slama and Carissa Friedewald to lead the Panthers into the start of the conference season, Eastern has high hopes for Ohio Valley Conference play.

“This is my fourth year here and I’ve seen more parody,” Searle said. “This is becoming a very competitive sport and it’s going to be a dogfight for the teams in the OVC to see the tournament weekend because they will only take six teams.”

Eastern opens up conference play immediately after its return from Hawaii, hosting five consecutive league games, beginning with Eastern Kentucky.

“We’re fortunate to have tournaments and doubleheaders before Eastern Kentucky,” Searle said. “We need experience and game situations to really get us going when it really counts in OVC play.

“I’m excited about the year. It’s anyone’s guess to what the outcome will be in May. We’re ready to play, even if it’s 20 below.”