RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team travels to Montgomery, Alabama this weekend for the Alabama State University Invitational.
 
The Colonels will play five games over the weekend. EKU opens up with a pair of contests on Friday, taking on Southeastern Louisiana at 1:30 p.m., followed by the host Alabama State at 7 p.m. Saturday they open up with Purdue Fort Wayne at 12 p.m., followed by Western Illinois at 4 p.m. They wrap up their weekend trip playing Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
 
Inside the Series                                                                                                                   
-EKU leads the all-time series between Southeastern Louisiana 2-1. The last meeting between the two teams was in 2012.  
 
-The Colonels second opponent on the weekend is Alabama State. The two teams have played twice prior to this year and have split the two contests. The last meeting between the two teams was in 2012.
 
-EKU will take on the Mastodons in its third game of the weekend. The two teams have played twice before this year and have split a pair of contests. This is the first meeting between the two teams since 2009.
 
-Eastern's last opponent of the weekend is Western Illinois. This will be the first ever contest between the two teams.  
 
What EKU Brings:
-EKU comes into the weekend 3-8, after getting swept by Chattanooga.
 
-Eastern is led by sophomore Sammi Miller at the plate. She has a team-best .375 batting average with two doubles.
 
-Jackie Mercado hit her first home run as a Colonel, when she sent a two-run home run over the left field fence against Chattanooga on Monday.
 
-Samantha Reynoso leads the way for the Colonels in the circle. She is 2-1 on the year with a 3.23 ERA on the year.  
 
-Bethany Todd was in the zone against Chattanooga. She appeared in two games, tossing nine and two-third innings with 12 strikeouts and allowing one run.
 
-Eastern ranks 12th in the country in home runs per game. 
 
Scouting the Opponent:
-Southeastern Louisiana comes into the weekend at 9-8 on the year. The Lions are led offensively by Ella Manzer, who has a team-best .455 average with two home runs and 11 RBIs.
 
-Alabama State is 8-5 on the year. The Hornets are led by Vanessa Bradford who has a .615 batting average with one home run and six RBIs.
 
-Purdue Fort Wayne has a 4-6 record on the year. The Mastodons are led offensively by Morganne Denny, who posts team-highs in batting average (.419), home runs (one), and RBIs (nine).
 
-Western Illinois comes into the tournament at 4-4 on the year. Sydney Hollings leads the offensive charge for the Leathernecks with a team-high .348 batting average.
 
EKU returns to the field next weekend for its home opener against the Bradley Braves. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.