RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University baseball Colonels broke a four-game losing streak with a 14-2 win over Belmont Thursday and now will host the Comfort Suites Invitational at Turkey Hughes Field this weekend. Eastern pounded out 21 hits and received seven strong innings of pitching from sophomore righthander Chip Albright as the Colonels picked up their third win in 11 decisions this season.

Eastern went into Conrad Field at Stetson University last week with high hopes of turning the team's slow start around, but left with three tough losses on the record. The scores of those games were 2-1, 5-3 and 11-10.

When asked if he was concerned about his team's slow start, EKU head coach Jim Ward said, " I'm not concerned about it at all. This has happened before. Last season, we got off to a great start, and it helped us. But this year, we just won't have that luxury."

The Colonels have five .300 hitters this year, led by senior second baseman Adam Basil who has a batting average of .583 with 15 runs scored. Junior rightfielder Gabe Thomas is hitting .457, while freshman Mike Brown, the designated hitter, is hitting .333. Senior first baseman Lee Chapman is batting .318 with two home runs and 14 RBI's. Rounding out .300 hitters for the Colonels are senior centerfielder Brad Sizemore at .306 and freshman DH Tim Booghier at .304.

On the mound, EKU sophomore righthander Chip Albright leads the Colonels with his

2-1 record and 3.52 ERA. Sophomore righthander Nic Lively leads the staff in ERA at 3.00, while senior lefthander Shane Billau has compiled a 3.38 ERA.

EKU opens the Comfort Suites Invitational with a game against Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m., which will be followed at 2:30 p.m. by a contest between Akron and UWM.

Sunday's action finds EKU playing Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by Eastern and Akron in a 2:30 p.m. game.