RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University baseball team closed its 2000 season last weekend with a third-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament which was held at Cape Girardeau, MO.

EKU, who finished 30-27 overall and as the 2000 regular season champions of the OVC, defeated Austin Peay, 5-2, Thursday to advance to Friday's winner's bracket final. However, missed opportunities cost the Colonels as Middle Tennessee edged the Colonels, 6-4.

Eastern was forced to play Southeast Missouri in the next game and then quickly saw the Indians jump out of the box with eight runs in the first inning. Eastern fought back to within 8-5 but eventually lost to SEMO, 15-5.

"Against Middle, we had our shot in the eighth inning and couldn't get it done. They did (had two-run single in the bottom of the inning to break the 4-4 tie) and they won," said Ward, who was selected as the 2000 OVC Coach of the Year by the league's head baseball coaches and sports information directors.

"I told our guys after we got beat to remember the good things that happened this year - 30 wins, winning the OVC regular season title and breaking the record for OVC wins in the league's single division play. We have a lot of key guys that won't be back, but we have some outstanding players returning. We feel good about filling the holes for next season," Ward said.

Two Colonel seniors - first baseman Lee Chapman and lefthanded pitcher Corey Eagle - were voted to the OVC All-Tournament team. Chapman was 5-12 with two home runs and five RBI's in Eastern's three games, while Eagle pitched eight innings, allowing two runs, five hits and striking out nine batters in Eastern's win over the Governors.

Chapman finished his career with 52 home runs, tieing Clay Elswick (1983-86) for most home runs in a Colonel career. Chapman hit .308 with 14 homers and 62 RBI's this past year, while Eagle was 9-6 with a 4.88 ERA.

Other seniors for the 2000 season for the Colonels included All-OVC second baseman Adam Basil (.399); honorable mention All-OVC third baseman Jason Sharp (.304); centerfielder Brad Sizemore (.213); leftfielder Tom White (.193); lefthanded reliever Mike Martini (4.10 with 1-2 record); lefthanded pitcher Shane Billau (2-1, 2.79 ERA); and righthanded pitcher Jeff Sharp (0-1, 11.34 ERA).

Eastern won the OVC regular season title by winning all but one of eight conference series, going 18-6 in league play, one-half game ahead of Southeast Missouri and Middle Tennessee who each closed at 17-6 in the final OVC standings.