RICHMOND, Ky. -- The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team continues its quest for an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berth this weekend as it hosts the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles. EKU and Tech square off Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in a doubleheader and come back Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. nine-inning single game.

EKU comes into the weekend with a 19-22-1 overall record and 9-9 mark in the OVC, good enough for fifth place, while Tech is 23-22 overall and 12-9 in the league and is in third place. The top six teams qualify for the OVC Tournament which will decide the league's representative in the NCAA Play-In series in mid-May.

"Our goal every weekend is a sweep. This weekend is very important for us, " said graduate assistant coach Deskaheh Bomberry. "We've had a couple of comeback wins lately and that seems to have helped our confidence and momentum as we head into the weekend."

EKU will go with junior righthander Eric Bess (6-4, 6.53 ERA) and sophomore lefthander Corey Eagle (2-4, 6.09) on Saturday. Sunday's starter has yet to be determined.

Eastern has upped its team batting average on the season to .324, paced by junior rightfielder Sean Murray at .410 (10 HR's, 32 RBI's) and sophomore designated hitter Matt Mason at .396 (14 HR's, 56 RBI's).

Other Colonel starters and their batting averages include sophomore shortstop Jason Sharp (.359), sophomore leftfielder Brad Sizemore (.340), sophomore first baseman Lee Chapman (.331), junior third baseman J.D. Bussell (.319), sophomore second baseman Adam Basil (.308), junior catcher Joe Smith (.295) and senior centerfielder Jeff Wellman (.215).

Eastern Illinois leads the league with a 14-3 record, while Southeast Missouri is second at 11-7. In between Tech and EKU in fourth place is Murray State with its 11-10 OVC record.

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