LIVE STATS

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team will travel up I-64 this weekend to play Morehead State in a three-game conference series at Allen Field. A doubleheader on Saturday is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m., while the third game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The Colonels (18-15, 6-3 OVC) have won seven of their last eight and find themselves tied for second in the OVC heading into this weekend. EKU swept a three-game series from Austin Peay State at Turkey Hughes field last weekend.

Morehead State (19-17, 2-4 OVC) currently sits in sixth place in the OVC after dropping two of three at Eastern Illinois last weekend.

The Colonels’ rotation for this weekend looks like this: junior right-hander Stephen Hefler (3-2, 5.40 ERA in 43.1 innings), junior left-hander Paul Duncan (3-1, 5.11 ERA in 24.2 innings) and sophomore left-hander Greg Terry (2-1, 5.21 ERA in 38.0 innings). Hefler is the reigning OVC Co-Pitcher of the Week after picking up wins over East Tennessee State and Austin Peay State last weekend. Duncan, meanwhile, went eight innings against the Eagles last year and got the win in Sunday’s deciding game.

Morehead State will counter with a trio of right-handers: Michael Bottoms (3-2, 6.04 ERA in 44.2 innings), Matthew Robertson (0-2, 10.30 ERA in 25.1 innings) and Jeff Arnold (4-1, 7.98 ERA in 44.0 innings).

EKU enters this weekend with a team batting average of 3.09. The Colonels are the best fielding team in the league with a .962 fielding percentage.

EKU continues to receive an All-American caliber season from junior Jayson Langfels. The hard-hitting third baseman leads the Colonels with a .402 batting average, 43 runs scored, 12 double and 11 home runs. He is also slugging at a team-best .803 clip and has legged out an OVC-leading four triples.

Sophomore Richie Rodriguez has also delivered a special season for EKU so far. The shortstop from Miami, Fla. is batting .395 with nine doubles and team-high 11 stolen bases. Rodriguez has also been one of the most defensively-efficient shortstops in the league this year.

Senior Anthony Ottrando and junior Ryan Faidley have complimented Langfels in the middle of the Colonel lineup this season. Ottrando is batting .347 with a team-best 43 RBI, while Faidley is hitting .358 and has hit nine home runs after hitting zero in his first two seasons in Richmond.

Morehead State boasts a .329 team batting average heading into Saturday. The Eagles are led by a host of hot-swinging players, including J.D. Ashbrook, who is batting .459 with 14 home runs. Drew Lee, the Preseason OVC Co-Player of the Year along with Langfels, is hitting .383 on the year with 10 doubles and 11 home runs.

EKU leads storied series between the two schools, 102-85-1. The Colonels have taken two of three from the Eagles the past two seasons.