RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University Colonel baseball team is ready for an important weekend of Ohio Valley Conference baseball that will pit the No. 2 ranked Eastern Kentucky Colonels against the league-leading Eastern Illinois University Panthers at Charleston, IL, in a three-game series.

The two squads meet Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in a doubleheader and will close weekend play with a nine-inning single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky comes into the weekend with a 30-19 overall record and 11-7 mark inside OVC play, while Eastern Illinois is 22-20 overall and 12-6 in league action.

"We're just going to take the series with Eastern Illinois one game at a time," said Ward. "We've been playing well on the road, so we're hoping that trend continues."

Junior third baseman Jason Sharp is leading Eastern in hitting for the season with his .387 batting average. EKU, batting .327 on the season as a team, has 11 players hitting .300 or better, including seven regulars.

Junior lefthanded reliever Mike Martini is at the top of the pitching charts with his 6-0 record, 3.20 ERA and four saves. Ward has set Eastern's starting rotation for the EIU series with freshman Chip Albright and senior Eric Bess slated to go on Saturday and junior Corey Eagle to pitch on Sunday.

Albright, who is having a fantastic first year of collegiate baseball is 7-4 with a 3.36 ERA, while Bess is 6-5 with a 7.02 ERA. Eagle, who has won five consecutive decisions, is 6-3 on the year with a 6.50 ERA.