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RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will honor Jena Handley during a Senior Day ceremony before the EKU and Austin Peay softball teams begin an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch at Gertrude Hood Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. Both teams are fighting for one of the two remaining spots available for the OVC tournament.

Only six of the conference’s 10 teams will qualify for the tournament, which begins on Thursday in Martin, Tenn. The Colonels (13-33, 7-13 OVC) are currently in eighth place. The Lady Govs (15-33, 7-12 OVC) are a half-game in front of Eastern in the seventh spot.

UT Martin, which has clinched the regular season title and the right to host the tournament, along with Morehead State, Jacksonville State and Eastern Illinois have clinched spots in the tournament. Five other teams are alive for the two remaining tournament berths heading into the final weekend of play.

Tennessee Tech (22-27, 9-11 OVC) is currently sixth, one and a half games in front of Austin Peay and two full games in front of EKU. Fifth place Murray State (20-26, 9-10 OVC) is also still within EKU’s reach. Tennessee Tech hosts last place Southeast Missouri while Murray State will play at fourth place Eastern Illinois this weekend.

Because of a series of rainouts, the Colonels have not played since splitting a doubleheader with Murray State on April 25. A doubleheader at home against Kentucky and a three-game series at Tennessee Tech last week were both rained out. Eastern is only 2-10 in the team’s last 12 games.

Sophomore Diane Gallagher leads the team with a .331 batting average and 24 runs scored. She leads the OVC with a school record 32 stolen bases this season.

Handley has posted the second best average (.329) on the team during her senior season. She leads the team with seven doubles and is second on the squad with 20 RBIs. Freshman Raquel Howes is the team leader with 21 RBIs to go along with a .281 batting average and two home runs.

Freshman pitcher Kristin Perry (6-13) is fourth in the conference this season with 130 strikeouts. Her opposing batting average of .191 is the best in the OVC. Junior Stacye Toups (6-8) leads the team with a 2.75 ERA.

Austin Peay is led offensively by Brittany Williams. The senior leads the team in hitting (.284), runs scored (20), RBIs (21) and stolen bases (10). Freshman Shine Hue has a team-best five home runs. In the circle the Lady Govs feature Morgan Brewer. The freshman is 11-9 with a team-best 3.03 ERA and 91 strikeouts.

APSU has a .225 team batting average and 38 stolen bases. Eastern Kentucky sports a .247 team average and 58 stolen bases.

Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.