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CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team will face off against Western Carolina this afternoon in a non-conference matchup before travelling to Tennessee Tech for a three-game conference series this weekend. First pitch from Cullowhee is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday’s matchup will mark the first time these two schools have played since 1996. EKU is 6-19 against the Catamounts since 1984.

The Colonels enter the midweek showdown with a record of 18-9 (6-3 OVC) and fresh off a series win over UT Martin at Turkey Hughes Field this weekend. EKU has won all three of its conference series in 2009.

EKU’s success has stemmed mostly from its offense this season. The Colonels are currently second in the country in team batting average (.374) and runs per game (10.7).

Senior Matt Davis is the motor behind EKU’s explosive offense. The speedy centerfielder is the national leader in runs per game with 1.89. This past week, Davis did what he does best this week: scored runs. 14 of them, to be exact. He performed the duties of a leadoff man to perfection in helping the Colonels win four of five games. He drew four walks. Got hit by a pitch. Stole five bases. Created havoc on the base paths. And ran the bases assertively and aggressively. In game two against UT Martin, he scored the go ahead run from second on a wild pitch. In game three, he scored the tying run from first on a single through the right side. But he also did it with power. Davis went 3-for-5 with three RBI, four runs scored and two home runs in game one against UTM to lead the Colonels to a 12-7 victory. In all, he went 7-for-12 with two doubles, two home runs, three RBI and eight runs scored against the Skyhawks this weekend.

Sophomore Jayson Langfels, meanwhile, provides the power. Langfels is first in the country in RBI per game with 1.87. The third baseman has also smashed nine home runs, five triples and compiled an impressive .863 slugging percentage.

EKU’s pitching has also been serviceable in the first half of the season as the Colonels are fourth in the OVC with a 5.37 team ERA. Sophomore Paul Duncan leads the staff with four wins while junior Chris Hord has a team-best two saves. Junior Jim Clancy (3-1) and sophomore Matt Fyffe (3-1) have also contributed.

Ross Heffley and Stephen Notaro lead the Catamounts offensively. Heffley is batting .449 this season while Notaro leads WCU with seven home runs and .604 slugging percentage.