The Eastern softball team will take on the Butler Bulldogs in a non-conference doubleheader at Williams Field today at 4 p.m.

Eastern, who enters the game with an overall record of 12-12, is looking to build on its recent split against Missouri State.  Butler will arrive at Williams Field with an overall record of 5-19.

Eastern head coach Kim Schuette said sophomore ace Stephanie Maday will take the mound in game one against the Bulldogs. Maday has been a rock for the Panthers this year, and will enter Tuesday’s match-up with a record of 8-6 and a 2.31 ERA.

Butler will likely throw sophomore Leah Bry. Bry is 2-8 for the year with an ERA of 4.20 in 71.2 inning of work.

Schuette said she is happy with her team’s performance off the base paths this year, but feels it could still improve. The same holds true for its defense, but Schuette would like to see it solid for the entire game.

“We are running the bases pretty well this year, but we are still working on a few little things,” Schuette said. “We want to play a full game of good, solid defense, getting the lead out when possible but a sure out when needed.”

Schuette has a clear goal of her expectations for Tuesday’s game against Butler.

 “We would like to limit the base runners getting to second, or even past there,” Schuette said. “But if they do, we need to tighten up our defense to make the routine plays while making sure to get outs. We are working really hard on seeing the whole ball in the batter’s box and really working hard at putting the ball in a play with a nice, easy swing.”

The Panthers play at the plate has picked up recently as they have begun to put more runs on the scoreboard.

Freshman sensation Bailey O’Dell continues to be the team’s star at the plate. She will enter Tuesday’s games with a .416 batting average, three homeruns and 17 RBI. She has also accounted for roughly one fifth of Eastern’s 156 hits on the season with 32 by herself.

Junior Melise Brown has a .416 batting average for the season to go along with 8 RBIs and six stolen bases.

Sophomore Carly Willert, junior Ally Seplak, junior Abby Wood and senior Hayley Pieper have also improved their hitting in the recent games. Willert enters Tuesday with a .277 batting average. Seplak has been a pleasant surprise for the team with her .333 batting average. Wood and Pieper have both hit well in the past few games, and both enter the Butler games with a batting average of .261.

 Erik Jensen can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].