RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team travels to the Total Control Invitational in Rosemont, Illinois this weekend to open the 2018 season.

The Colonels will play four games over the weekend. EKU takes on Fort Wayne at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by the University of Northern Colorado at 5:30 p.m. Eastern squares off against DePaul University at 10 a.m. and Loyola Chicago at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

 

Inside the Series'                                                                                                                   

-EKU has only seen Fort Wayne, formerly known as IPFW, on the diamond two times with the last being in 2009. The teams split the record, 1-1.

-Northern Colorado is a first-time opponent for Eastern.

-DePaul is another team that the Colonels rarely face, only once on record, in 2010. EKU lost 6-2.

-Eastern Kentucky has taken on Loyola three times, the Ramblers lead the series 2-1.

What EKU Brings:

-A whole new look for the 2018 season: They bring back eight, but welcome nine and a new assistant coach in Stacy May-Johnson.

-Nine new faces that include two pitchers, a middle-infielder, a catcher and five dual position players.

-Johnkyria Alston who took sole possession of the single-season doubles record in 2017 with 19 and earned a spot on the single-game home runs record list with two.

-First team all-conference and all-newcomer team players: Paige Murphy hit .394 last season with 25 RBIs and a .642 slugging percentage to garner a spot on the 2017 first team. Mollie Paulick made a name for herself as a vital part of the pitching staff during her freshman campaign after collecting a 13-11 win-loss record and 137 strikeouts (8^th in the OVC) to garner a spot on the all-newcomer team.

Live Statistics and Video:

-Will not be available for this tournament.