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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team will travel to Knoxville on Tuesday to take on No. 19 Tennessee. First pitch from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.
 
It is the final leg of a 33-game road swing to open the season for EKU (14-18). The Colonels will play their home opener – and commemorate the brand-new Gertrude Hood Field – with a doubleheader versus SIUE on Saturday, April 8.
 
Eastern split a doubleheader at Belmont on Saturday in Nashville, losing game one, 7-0, before rolling past the Bruins, 14-3, in a five-inning game two.
 
AT THE PLATE
 
- Sophomore first baseman Rachel Minogue leads the OVC and ranks in the top-35 in the country with a .452 batting average. Minogue went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's game-two rout of Belmont.
 
- Freshman Mia Sanchez, meanwhile, ranks fifth in the OVC and is one of the top rookie hitters in the country with a .404 batting average. Sanchez was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's win.
 
- Junior Johnkyria Alston leads the OVC in RBI (31) and doubles (13).
 
IN THE CIRCLE
 
-Centerville, Ohio native Mollie Paulick picked up her second conference win of the season on Saturday at Belmont, tossing a complete game and allowing only three runs on five hits. Paulick ranks fifth in the OVC with a 1.74 ERA.
 
- Sophomore Peyton Hutchens tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief in game one, surrendering just one hit.
 
THE OPPONENT
 
- Tennessee (31-5) is riding a 10-game winning streak after a series sweep of N.C. State last weekend.
 
- Meghan Gregg paces the Vols with nine home runs and a .441 batting average.
 
- EKU is 0-9 all-time against Tennessee. The Vols swept the Colonels in a doubleheader in their last matchup in 2015.