RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team will host Marshall for a midweek contest in its final home game of the season.
 
First pitch is set for 5 p.m., with live stats available.
 
The Colonels (24-20-1, 11-5-1) are coming off a series against Central Arkansas in which they split the first two games before the finale ended in the first tie in program history.
 
The matchup marks the final nonconference game of the season for EKU, which will play two more ASUN Conference road series before competing in the ASUN Tournament.
 
The Colonels clinched a spot in the tournament this past weekend and currently sit in third place in the Gold Division.
 
SCOUTING THE HERD
 
Marshall enters the matchup 34-12 overall and 15-3 in conference play. The Herd has not lost a series all season and sits atop the Sun Belt Conference standings.
 
Marshall holds a 20-7 all-time series advantage over the Colonels. EKU's last win over the Herd came in 2006, in a 7-4 victory. Marshall is 7-1 this season against teams that have also faced EKU, with wins over Miami (OH), Georgia Southern, Pitt, and South Alabama.
 
Marshall has put together a historic offensive season, setting the program record for home runs with 80 last weekend against South Alabama. Sophomore Sydni Burko leads the offense with a .399 batting average, more than 57 hits, eight doubles, 17 home runs, and 38 RBIs, along with a .811 slugging percentage. Ava Blake is batting .336 with 45 hits, 36 runs scored, 37 RBIs, and 16 home runs.
 
In the circle, Jules King leads the staff at 13-5 with a 2.78 ERA. King has recorded 120 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .235 batting average. Maddie Veal and Paige Maynard have also been key contributors. Veal owns a 2.81 ERA with 68 strikeouts and has limited opponents to a .272 average. Maynard has thrown 90 innings, going 10-5 with a 2.93 ERA.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Colonels have continued to improve as the season has progressed, raising their batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage over the past eight games while hitting seven home runs.
 
Jaelin Haynes has been a standout during that stretch, batting .379 with 10 runs scored, one double, one triple, one home run, and 10 RBIs.
 
Defensively, EKU has made adjustments with Jordan Smith moving to shortstop and Jocelyn Owen taking over at first base, helping the Colonels go 6-1-1 during that span.
 
Last weekend, the Colonels split the first two games against Central Arkansas before the series finale ended in the program's first-ever tie.