RICHMOND, Ky. -- The Eastern Kentucky University Colonel baseball team, having won five of its last six games, jumps back into Ohio Valley Conference action with a three-game set at UT Martin this weekend.

Eastern, 13-14-1 overall and in a third place tie in the OVC standings with a 5-4 league record, took last weekend's OVC series with Austin Peay with three straight wins over the Govs -- 12-11, 18-2 and 9-8. The Colonels went 4-2 last week and have split decisions this week with a win over Marshall (13-5) and a loss to Cincinnati (11-9).

Eastern has been stinging the ball, especially junior rightfielder Sean Murray and sophomore shortstop Jason Sharp. Murray, who went 15-25 (.600) last week and who reached base safely 11 straight times at one point, leads the team with his .427 batting average. For last week's performance, Murray was tabbed as OVC Player of the Week.

Sharp is also over the .400 mark at .404 with five home runs and 21 RBI's on the season. He is coming off back-to-back games this week of 5-5 vs. Marshall and 2-5 vs. Cincinnati. He and Murray have been big contributors in Eastern raising its team batting average from .282 eight game ago to .310 heading to UT Martin.

Other Colonel regulars and their batting averages include: leftfielder Brad Sizemore, .343; designated hitter Matt Mason, .340; second baseman Adam Basil, .319; catcher Joe Smith, .282; third baseman J.D. Bussell, .269; first baseman Lee Chapman, .268; and centerfielder Jeff Wellman, .220.

The pitching staff is also starting to round into shape, having dropped the Colonels' team E.R.A. to 5.56. Senior reliever Joe Witten tops the team with his 2.11 E.R.A., 2-2 record and three saves. EKU's conference rotation includes sophomore lefthander Keith Jones, 2-2, 3.47 E.R.A.; sophomore lefthander Corey Eagle, 1-3, 5.50 E.R.A.; and junior righthander Eric Bess, 4-3, 6.85 E.R.A.

Defense has been a concern for coach Ward and his staff, as in 28 games, the Colonels have made 60 errors, allowing 62 unearned runs to cross the plate -- 31 percent of the runs given up by EKU pitchers this season.

Eastern has again been aggressive on the basepaths in 1998, having stolen 64-90 stolen base attempts, nearly tripling the opponents' totals of 23 steals on the season. Basil leads the way for the Colonels in steals with 10-13, followed by Wellman at 9-11, Sizemore at 9-14 and Murray at 8-17.

EKU returns home Tuesday, Apr. 7, for a 3:00 p.m. game with Wright State.

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