RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University baseball team is taking a break from competition to concentrate on final exams before returning to action Saturday, May 8, in a single game at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

EKU, 31-21 overall and 12-9 inside Ohio Valley Conference play, had its last game action last weekend at Eastern Illinois University, losing two of three contests to the Panthers. The teams traded one-run wins last Saturday, as the Colonels dropped a heartbreaker, 7-6, before coming back in the nightcap to win, 6-5. Sunday's game went to EIU, 8-5.

"We're using these two weeks to prepare for the OVC Tournament," said Ward. "We want to keep our hitters sharp and our pitching fine-tuned. Our frame of mind is good. Our players are committed to getting themselves ready and have a certain level of confidence to reach our goal of winning the OVC tournament."

Junior first baseman Lee Chapman had a big week for the Colonels, going 8-14 (.571) with one double, two home runs, four RBI's and three runs scored. He also was successful in 46 fielding chances.

Jason Sharp, junior third baseman, leads Colonel regulars in batting average with his .383 batting average, followed by senior rightfielder Sean Murray at .362 and Chapman at .360.

Senior righthander Eric Bess gained the win on the mound against EIU, collecting his seventh win in 12 decisions. Junior reliever Mike Martini (6-1) and junior lefthander Corey Eagle were tagged with the two Eastern losses (6-4). Martini picked up his league-leading fifth save in the Colonels' 6-5 win over EIU.

Bess, Eagle and Albright are scheduled to pitch three innings each in Saturday's 2:00 p.m. CST game at Belmont.

EKU, who stands in fourth place in current league standings two games behind Eastern Illinois, completes OVC regular season play May 15-16 by hosting Middle Tennessee State University in a three-game series at Turkey Hughes Field.

The OVC Tournament will be held May 20-22 at a site to be determined.