RICHMOND, Ky. - Five Eastern Kentucky University senior baseball team members will be playing their last home series this weekend when the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders come to Eastern's Turkey Hughes Field for a twinbill Saturday and a single game Sunday.

Two five-year seniors - second baseman J.D. Bussell and catcher Joe Smith - head this list, while rightfielder Sean Murray, pitcher Eric Bess and designated hitter Jason Estep will also be playing their last home games Sunday.

"These five players have certainly meant a lot to our team through the years. We'll miss them next season, but we're hoping we can extend their collegiate playing careers a little more in next week's OVC Tournament," said EKU head coach Jim Ward.

Bussell, who came to EKU from Rockcastle County High School, has played three infield positions - shortstop, third base and second base - during his stay at Eastern. He is hitting .302 this year and .304 for his Eastern career. He has set EKU career marks for at bats (701) and games played (202) and is five singles away from establishing an Eastern career mark in this category with 164.

Smith, a graduate of Anderson County High School, was selected to the 1998 All-Ohio Valley Conference team while batting .272. He is hitting .294 this year with nine home runs and a career-best 44 runs batted in.

Murray, who came to Eastern from Sierra College last season and who hails from Placerville, CA, is hitting .364 this year after batting .402 as a junior and making the All-OVC team and the All-OVC Tournament squad. He is tied for second on the team in home runs this season with 11 and has knocked in 53 runs, also second on the EKU club.

Bess, a graduate of Bracken County High School, is 7-5 this season and 21-15 for his four-year career at Eastern. He is 4-2 this year against OVC competition and is slated to pitch again Sunday against MTSU. He was recently selected again as a GTE Academic All-District choice, his second such selection at EKU.

Estep, a native of Portsmouth, OH, who doubled as a hitter and pitcher until arm troubles forced him to give up pitching this season, struck out 55 batters in 64 innings of relief work for his Colonel career. In limited pinch-hitting roles this season, he is batting .667 with an RBI.

In five seasons, Eastern has won 124 games, including this year's 31-22 overall record and 12-9 mark inside OVC play. The Colonels could finish anywhere from second to sixth in the final OVC standings, depending on this last weekend of play around the league.

EKU, who has qualified for next week's OVC Tournament, will open play in that six-team OVC Tourney field next Thursday at a site still to be determined.