Softball Hosts Austin Peay and Murray State

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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State softball team resumes Ohio Valley Conference play when it hosts Austin Peay Friday and Murray State on Saturday. First pitch for both twinbills is scheduled for Noon ET.

  SERIES STORIES
• MSU was 1-3 versus Austin Peay and Murray State in 2013.
• The Eagles defeated Murray State 9-2 in the first game of a doubleheader.
• Samantha Howard had two hits in a 10-5 loss to the Lady Govs.
• Stephanie Etter finished 5-for-6 in two games versus Murray State.
• Murray State has won seven straight entering its Friday series at EKU.

EAGLE NOTES

Hey Katie Raile
With a 3-for-4 day at the plate in game one at Dayton, followed by a solo home run in the nightcap, junior third baseman Katie Raile raised her batting average to a team-best .304. The Naples, Fla., native also leads the Eagles with 34 hits and 21 RBI. Her four home runs are tied for the team lead.

Keeping Them in Check
In back-to-back contests at Jacksonville State, junior pitcher Tanna Seuferer held the Gamecocks to just five hits. Jax State entered the three-game series as the OVC leader with a .323 batting average. The Chariton, Iowa, native also had a career-best six strikeouts in Saturday's 4-0 setback to the Gamecocks. She has allowed just over two runs (2.58 ERA) in each of her last three starts, with 13 strikeouts and five walks.

What a Peach
In the 11-6 setback versus Butler, sophmore right fielder Tressa Watson collected a career best four hits, including three doubles and a two-run home run. The four hits were the most by an MSU player this season. The Kennesaw, Ga., native is tied for the team lead with eight doubles and four home runs.

Isn't It Grand
In the 12-8 setback versus Butler, senior catcher McKenna Bartko blasted her first career grand slam. It was the fifth career home run for the Murrieta, Calif., native, and the first time one of her round-trippers came with a runner on base. She has reached base safely in a team-best five straight contests.

Extra Extra
Of the 207 hits collected by Morehead State, 68 (33 percent) have been for extra bases. The Eagles have collected 42 doubles, six triples and 20 home runs.

Must Be McGuffey
Since the beginning of conference play, freshman outfielder Kayla McGuffey has seen her batting average climb 95 points. The Mooresville, N.C., native had a career best 3-for-4 performance versus SIU Edwardsville. She is tied for second on the team with 10 hits in OVC contests.

Preseason Picks
MSU was picked to finish fourth in the OVC East Division in a poll of the league's coaches and sports information directors. The Eagles finished fourth in the division with a 10-14 mark last season. Jacksonville State was selected to win the east, while SIU Edwardsville was picked to take the west.