Eastern softball travels to Peoria to take on non-conference foe Bradley today.

The Panthers (17-22) and the Braves (20-15), out of the Missouri Valley Conference split a doubleheader last year at Williams Field.

Eastern comes into the doubleheader trying to right its recent losing ways.

With the Panthers being swept by Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee State this past weekend, Eastern has lost five of its last eight games.

But the Panthers have won four of their last six non-conference games.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette said these non-conference games mean more for pitchers and hitters to gain confidence in preparation for the OVC games.

“Hopefully we can get our pitchers some good innings and also definitely come out with a win,” she said. “Winning does something. The food taste’s better, everything’s better.”

Schuette said she planned to use all four of her pitchers at some point in today’s doubleheader.

Eastern returns to conference play when it hosts Morehead State this weekend in a crucial three-game series.