JACKSON, Tenn. – The No. 6 seed Eastern Kentucky University baseball team will face the No. 3 seed Murray State on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. EST in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Pringles Park. This is the Colonels’ (27-25, 9-12 OVC) first trip to the postseason in three years.

The loser of the contest will return at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday to play an elimination game. If EKU wins, the Colonels will face regular season champion Tennessee Tech at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.

EKU was swept in a three-game series at Murray State (25-26-1, 12-8-1 OVC) three weeks ago; however, the Thoroughbreds have dropped four straight heading into postseason play, and they lost their shot at the OVC regular season title after being swept by Tennessee Tech last weekend.

The Colonels, meanwhile, enter the tournament on a three-game winning streak after sweeping SIU Edwardsville at home over the weekend.

EKU will turn to a freshman in its first OVC Tournament game since 2007 as right-hander Anthony Bazzani will start on the hill for the Colonels. Bazzani is 2-0 and has allowed just two runs over 14 innings in his last two starts. He hurled the Colonels’ first complete game of the season against Jacksonville State on May 15 and was named OVC Pitcher of the Week for his efforts.

Murray State will counter with junior right-hander Chris Craycraft (6-4, 5.25 ERA), who pitched a complete game three-hitter against the Colonels on May 8.

Junior southpaw Paul Duncan is expected to start in the Colonels’ second game of the tournament.

Junior Jayson Langfels led EKU during the regular season with a .373 batting average. The All-American third baseman crushed a pair of two-run home runs in EKU’s final game of the season, and the Colonels are hoping he can carry that momentum to Pringles Park.

Senior Anthony Ottrando led the Colonels with 17 home runs and was second in the OVC with 66 RBI. Sophomore Richie Rodriguez hit .353 on the year and was near the OVC lead with 19 stolen bases.

One player the Colonels are leery of facing is Murray State first baseman Wes Cunningham. The favorite for OVC Player of the Year, Cunningham enters postseason play with a .415 batting average and 20 homers. He scorched EKU three weeks ago, batting 7-for-11 with 12 RBI and a home run in the Thoroughbreds sweep of the Colonels at Murray State.

No active player on EKU’s roster has played in the OVC Tournament. Pitchers Jim Clancy and Chris Hord were freshmen on the last team that qualified in 2007, but they are sidelined with injuries this season.

The Colonels went 1-2 in their last appearance in the OVC Tournament, with both of their losses coming to former OVC member Samford. The one team EKU did beat in the tournament that year: Murray State.


TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Wednesday, May 26
Game 1 - #4 Southeast Missouri vs. #5 Eastern Illinois, 3:00 p.m.
Game 2 - #3 Murray State vs. #6 Eastern Kentucky, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 27
Game 3 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4 - #2 Jacksonville State vs. Highest Seed of Games 1/2 Winners, 3:00 p.m.
Game 5 - #1 Tennessee Tech vs. Lowest Seed of Games 1/2 Winners, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, May 28
Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Lowest Seed of Games 4/5 Losers, 11:00 a.m.
Game 7 - Winner Game 6 vs. Highest Seed of Games 4/5 Losers, 3:00 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 29
Game 9 - Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 12:00 p.m.
Game 10 - Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 30 (if necessary)
Game 11 - Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 12:00 p.m.


GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Baseball Championship Central
PDF Bracket

Video Streaming
-- Fans can watch the entire 2010 OVC Baseball Tournament live or on-demand with OVCSports.TV. Fans can purchase the tournament package for $9.95 and have access to every game. Click here to access the sign-up page. (Note: If you already subscribe to the annual or monthly package, you do not have to subscribe to the tournament package in order to see the event; it is already covered in your subscription.)

Live Audio
-- Click here for a FREE online-only broadcast of all the Colonels' tournament games!

Live Stats
-- Click here for live stats!

Tickets
-- Tickets for the event will be $10 per day or $30 for an all-session pass (up to 11 total games). There is also a $8 a day rate for students/faculty of OVC-member schools or groups.  All seats at the 6,000-seat park are general admission for the OVC Championship. Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Diamond Jaxx box office or by calling (731) 988-5299.

Directions
-- Click here for directions to Pringles Park.

Flood Relief Donations
-- The Ohio Valley Conference is teaming up with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx to encourage fans to contribute to the Tennessee Flood Relief effort during the 2010 OVC Baseball Tournament. Fans are asked to donate non-perishable food items as well as cleaning supplies, which will be accepted throughout the tournament. The OVC as well as host UT Martin recently conducted a successful canned-food drive at the OVC Softball Tournament (May 13-15), and both the Conference and the Diamond Jaxx are looking to contribute to those efforts as Jackson and Nashville were among the hardest hit areas of the Tennessee floods. Donations will directly benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and Graceworks Ministries in the Nashville area, as well as a local organization in the Jackson area. Fans can drop off items at drop boxes located at the stadium entrance.