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MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State softball team wraps up the 2010 regular season this weekend at home against UT Martin, and while the Skyhawks have already clinched the league's regular season title, the Eagles can still play for second place and a vital first round bye in next week's OVC Tournament in Martin.
Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m., while Sunday's game is set for 1 p.m. as well. Sunday is senior day, and the Eagles will honor their seven-member class - all of whom have played all four years in an Eagle uniform.
MSU sits at 14-6 in the OVC, and while Jacksonville State and Eastern Illinois are in third and fourth right now, both can still catch or pass the Eagles. But, with at least one win this weekend, MSU will guarantee itself no worse than third place. If the Eagles win at least one and JSU loses at least one to Tennessee State, MSU is then locked into second place and the first round bye in the tournament. Also, if MSU can pick up two victories, it is then also guaranteed second place.
In head coach Holly Bruder's first two years, MSU has finished second (2008) and third (2009).
UT Martin wrapped up the regular season title last weekend with a sweep at Southeast Missouri, and that also eliminated SEMO from tournament contention. The Skyhawks are 42-9 overall and 19-3 in the OVC. A potent offensive club, UTM is hitting .320 as a team. Megan Williams, a candidate for OVC Player of the Year, leads the way with a .381 batting average and a league best 13 home runs. Jenny Bain, last year's OVC Freshman of the year, bats .358 with 11 homers.
Paij Lintz leads the pitching staff with a league high 22-3 record. Kate Vanderham is 14-2 with a 1.68 ERA.
For the Eagles (27-19 overall), OVC Freshman of the Year candidate
Amber Riddle leads the squad with eight home runs, while freshman
Kayla Ashbrook tops the batting averages at .312. Senior pitcher
Alex Gjevre, an OVC Pitcher of the year nominee, is 14-9 with a 1.99 ERA and a league high 181 strikeouts.
Sunday, MSU will honor seniors Gjevre,
Ashley Archer,
Brittany Scheer,
Bianca Cardenas,
Sarah Funston,
Courtney Seiler, and
Bethany Ellis.
UT Martin leads the all time series with Morehead State 36-16. Last year, in Martin, MSU dropped two of three. In 2008, UTM won the first game in Morehead before the second and third games were cancelled due to the umpires' decision of the field being unplayable.