RICHMOND, Ky. - Following a two-game homestand with the Detroit Titans Friday and Saturday, coach Jim Ward's Eastern Kentucky University baseball team travels to Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, for single games Tuesday through Thursday before opening Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Turkey Hughes Field which includes a doubleheader Saturday (Mar. 20) and a single game next Sunday (Mar. 21).

Eastern, 8-8 on the year, saw its three-game winning streak snapped Thursday by the 24^th-ranked University of Louisville Cardinals with a 9-4 setback at Louisville's Cardinal Stadium.

A five-run third inning and three more runs by the Cards in the fourth were too much for the Colonels to overcome. EKU scored its two runs on a groundout and a wild pitch in the fifth and a two-run home run by senior catcher Joe Smith in the top of the ninth. Lefthander Corey Eagle (1-3) took the loss for the Colonels.

Senior rightfielder Sean Murray continues to lead Eastern in batting with his .391 average, followed by freshman catcher Mike Scheider at .375, junior second baseman Adam Basil at .362, junior third baseman Jason Sharp at .333, senior leftfielder J.D. Bussell at .317, freshman designated hitter Alex Goss at .314 and junior first baseman Lee Chapman at .303.

Murray leads the team in home runs with four, in stolen bases with nine and is tied for the team lead in runs batted in with 16 with Chapman.

Junior lefthander Mike Martini has continued his stellar work out of the bullpen as he has picked up two saves to go along with his 1-0 record and team-leading 1.23 earned run average. Freshman righthander Chip Albright leads the team in victories with his 3-1 record.