RICHMOND, Ky. - Following a 27-run explosion against Belmont University Thursday, coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University Colonels baseball team will move back into Ohio Valley Conference action by hosting Morehead State University in a twinbill Saturday and a single game Sunday. Both day's action begins at 1:00 p.m.

EKU, 26-14 on the season, currently stands 8-4 in OVC play, good enough for second place. Morehead State, who has been idle this week, comes into Saturday's game with a 15-17-1 overall record and 1-8 mark in conference play.

"We hope we can continue to play like we've been playing lately. Morehead State will be tough, so we're going to have to play well to be successful," said Ward.

In Thursday's 27-13 win over Belmont, Eastern clobbered seven home runs and had 28 hits, both season highs. Junior centerfielder Brad Sizemore and senior catcher Joe Smith had four hits each, including one home run apiece, and four RBI's each to lead Eastern's hit parade. Freshman shortstop Kiley Vaughn and senior rightfielder Sean Murray each added three hits, while pinch-hitter Aaron Crock went 2-2 with a grand slam and four RBI's.

Scheduled to pitch this weekend for the Colonels are freshman righthander Chip Albright (7-3, 2.76 ERA) and senior righthander Eric Bess (6-3, 5.92 ERA) on Saturday and junior lefthander Corey Eagle (4-3, 7.62 ERA) on Sunday. Junior lefthander Mike Martini (5-0, 3.89 ERA with three saves) will be waiting in the bullpen for the Colonels.

Junior third baseman Jason Sharp leads the Colonels in batting with his .420 average. He has also hit a team-leading 15 doubles with seven home runs and 25 runs batted in.

Seven of Eastern's nine regulars are hitting above .300, including Murray (.379-9 HR's-39 RBI's); junior first baseman Lee Chapman (.353-14-50); junior designated hitter Adam Basil (.336-5-30); Sizemore (.323-6-27); senior second baseman J.D. Bussell (.322-4-23); and Smith (.305-6-35).

Rounding out the regulars are junior leftfielder Tom White (.282-6-26) and Vaughn (.277-1-18). The Colonels now are hitting .330 as a team, a season-high mark.

Eastern has won seven straight OVC games and 11 of its last 13 games overall.