Sports Spot with Kevin Murphy/Sports Editor

The Eastern softball team (5-0) is coming off a weekend with the New Mexico State Tournament Championship, but the Panthers still have plenty of games to go.

This weekend the Panthers will play South Carolina, which is receiving votes in the USA today/NFCA Division I poll, at the South Carolina Gamecock Invitational.

The Panthers will also play, according to this poll, No. 24 Southern Illinois and Kansas, which received votes, later this season.

The Panthers already defeated New Mexico State twice this season. The Aggies are receiving votes in this pool, and Eastern isn’t.

In the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll, Kansas, Southern Illinois and New Mexico State are all receiving votes.

And finally in the Ultimate College Softball poll, SIUC is ranked No. 23. But one of Eastern’s other opponents this season, Illinois, is receiving votes.