RICHMOND, Ky. -- Coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University Colonels baseball team ended its 1998 season with a third place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament hosted by Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, MO.

EKU opened the tourney with back to back wins, taking a 7-5 decision from Murray State and a 15-3 game from Eastern Illinois, before losing 12-8 to Southeast Missouri in the winner's bracket final and 26-10 in the elimination game to EIU.

"We were hitting the ball well, but since Shawn Thacker (sophomore righthander) had gone down with arm problems again, we were struggling to find a consistent third starter and it showed, " Ward said. "But we were pleased with our effort and are looking forward to next year when most everyone returns."

EKU had three players named to the All OVC Tournament team, including junior rightfielder Sean Murray who went 8-17 with three homeruns and eight RBI's at the tourney; sophomore second baseman Adam Basil (8-16, two HR's, 4 RBI's); and sophomore lefthander Corey Eagle who pitched a nine-inning complete game 15-3 win over Eastern Illinois which included five strikeouts and only two walks issued.

Murray led the Colonels on the season in hitting with his .402 average, 16 HR's and 48 RBI's, followed by sophomore designated hitter Matt Mason (.378, 16 HR's, 60 RBI's); sophomore shortstop Jason Sharp (.347, 7 HR's, 35 RBI's); junior third baseman J.D. Bussell (.344, 5 HR's, 28 RBI's); sophomore leftfielder Brad Sizemore (.338, 6 HR's, 40 RBI's); sophomore first baseman Lee Chapman (.333, 14 HR's, 52 RBI's); and sophomore second baseman Adam Basil (.321, 11 HR's, 40 RBI's.

Rounding out the starting lineup was junior catcher Joe Smith (.272, 6 HR's, 31 RBI's) and senior centerfielder Jeff Wellman (.267, 3 HR's, 26 RBI's).

Junior righthander Eric Bess was the ace of the pitching staff with his 9-4 record and 6.27 earned run average, followed by Eagle' 4-5 mark and 6.11 ERA. Senior reliever Joe Witten closed a brilliant four year career with the Colonels by notching a 4-4 record, 3.95 ERA and four saves.

Murray, Mason, Sharp and Smith were first team All OVC choices for 1998, while Bess was an honorable mention all conference selection.

Southeast Missouri, who was seeded second going into the tourney, defeated Eastern Illinois, 15-11, to win the tourney. The Indians host Southern University this weekend in a best 2-3 play in series for a berth in an NCAA Regional.

Eastern finished the 1998 season with a 24-29-1 overall mark and 12-12 record inside OVC play which tied the Colonels for fifth place in the regular season standings.

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