THIS WEEKEND:
Both Eastern Kentucky (15-22, 5-6 OVC) and Tennessee State (9-25, 2-11) will be looking to return to the win column this weekend. The Colonels have lost four straight after recording back-to-back 10-0 wins over Morehead State and Miami (Ohio) at the end of March. Meanwhile, the Tigers have dropped nine consecutive games after defeating Austin Peay on March 21.
 
LIVE STATS and LIVE VIDEO are available for all three games at Gertrude Hood Field this weekend. The two teams are scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m., and a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
For in-game updates, follow @EKU_Softball on Twitter.
  
OPPONENT AND CONFERENCE LINKS
 
TENNESSEE STATE | OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE

NOTES ON THE COLONELS:
 
LAST WEEK
Eastern dropped both games of a doubleheader at Murray State last Saturday by scores of 5-4 and 3-1. On Wednesday, the Colonels stepped out of conference and lost two games to No. 11 Tennessee by scores of 7-2 and 7-4.
 
ON DECK
Eastern Kentucky will host No. 13 Kentucky in a night game on Wednesday, April 15. The Colonels will be hosting a silent auction before and during the game to promote Autism Awareness. All proceeds will go to the Bobby Whitlock Jr. Foundation.
 
SERIES HISTORY
EKU leads the all-time series against Tennessee State, 58-10. The two teams split a doubleheader last year in Nashville. The Colonels won game one, 1-0, before the Tigers bounced back to take the second game, 4-1. Senior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger only allowed two TSU batters to reach base in the 1-0 win. The righty gave up a leadoff walk in the third inning and a two-out double in the sixth.
 
TACKETT STARTING TO HEAT UP
Over the last six games, senior Katie Tackett is hitting .368 (7-of-19) with three home runs and 11 RBIs. The first baseman picked up four RBIs in the doubleheader at Tennessee Wednesday. She posted a two-run single in game one and capped the night with a two-run homer in the second game. Tackett leads the team with a .547 slugging percentage and ranks third with five home runs.
 
McQUEEN LEADS OVC IN HITTING
Senior Shannon McQueen is batting .455 (15-of-33) in OVC games, which ranks first among all players in the conference. Three other players are batting above .350 against league pitching – sophomore Amber Murray (.382), freshman Paige Murphy (.367) and sophomore Krislyn Campos (.364). As a team, the Colonels are batting .308 against OVC opponents.
 
MURPHY'S HITTING STREAK
Freshman Paige Murphy is currently riding a six-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 11 straight contests. Over the last six games, Murphy is batting .444 (8-of-18) and has scored six runs. The outfielder ranks third in the league in walks (21) and runs scored (32).