GAME NOTES (PDF) | KENTUCKY (WATCH) | TENNESSEE STATE LIVE STATS (GAME 1 | GAME 2 | GAME 3)

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State Softball is back on the field on Wednesday with a return to head coach Samantha Jones' old stomping grounds at the University of Kentucky before hitting the road to Nashville for a series against conference rival Tennessee State.
 
The Eagles are looking to get back in the win column against a team ranked #7 in the country after dropping their three matchups vs. Southeast Missouri this past weekend. They'll face a tough test in Jones' alma mater as the Wildcats are coming off a series victory over #3 Alabama, highlighted by a 5-4 walk-off win on Monday. The contest at John Cropp Stadium will air live at 7 pm ET on the SEC Network, ESPN3, and the WatchESPN app.
 
Morehead State will then continue its conference schedule with a three-game series at Tennessee State. The Eagles are still searching for their first OVC win of the season after starting the year with 14 losses. MSU's most recent conference victory came against the Tigers of TSU in the final game of the 2019 season. Game one is set for 4 pm ET on Thursday with a Friday doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 pm ET.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES – KENTUCKY
2021 Records: Morehead State (6-17/0-14 OVC) | Kentucky (25-4/3-3 SEC)
Series History: Kentucky leads 23-1
Last Five Meetings: Apr. 24, 2012 (UK 3, MOR 1) | Mar. 18, 2010 (UK 3, MOR 0) | Mar. 10, 2009 (UK 4, MOR 3) | Mar. 10, 2009 (UK 5, MOR 1) | Mar. 12, 2008 (UK 7, MOR 1)
 
INSIDE THE SERIES – TENNESSEE STATE
2021 Records: Morehead State (6-17/0-14 OVC) | Tennessee State (6-16/2-12 OVC)
Series History: Morehead State leads 67-14
Last Five Meetings: May 5, 2019 (MOR 3, TSU 0) | May 5, 2019 (TSU 6, MOR 1) | Mar. 31, 2018 (MOR 2, TSU 1) | Mar. 31, 2018 (MOR 6, TSU 0) | Apr. 1, 2017 (TSU 10, MOR 2)
 
NOTABLE
• Head coach Samantha Jones returns to her alma mater as the Eagles face the University of Kentucky. Jones was a four-year letter winner for the Wildcats from 2007-11 where she was named UK's Offensive Player of the Year during her senior season after belting 10 homers with 34 RBI.
 
• Morehead State is dangerous on the basepaths with a share of the OVC-lead with 48 stolen bases on 55 attempts. MSU also leads the conference and is 20th in the NCAA with 2.09 stolen bases per game.
 
• Sophomore Kirya Kingery is the catalyst for the speedy Eagles as she leads the OVC with 19 stolen bases. She is also 11th in the country with an average of 0.86 stolen bases per game.
 
• MSU batters have combined for a total of 19 times hit by a pitch, the highest mark in the conference. The Morehead State pitching staff also leads the conference in HBPs, having hit 23 opposing batters on the season.
 
• Morehead State has seen excellent work behind the plate as junior catcher Peyton Slater has led the Eagles to a conference-best eight opposing runners caught stealing.
 
• MSU pitchers lead the OVC with 38 batters struck out looking. Lennon Spicer leads the conference individually, representing 21 of the 38 total strikeouts.
 
• Freshman Lennon Spicer is sixth in the OVC with 71.2 innings pitched on the year. She is also ranked in the top 10 in the conference in appearances (T-sixth, 15), games finished (T-third, nine), and strikeouts (ninth, 46).
 
• Kirya Kingery is tied for eighth in the OVC in runs, having crossed the plate 18 times on the season. She is also ninth in the conference with a .440 on-base percentage, tied for eighth with 22 hits and fourteenth with a .349 batting average.
 
• Morehead State has three Eagles in the top 10 in the OVC in times HBP. Kirya Kingery leads the Eagles with five times HBP for fourth-best in the conference while Peyton Slater and Peyton Rose have been hit four times apiece to be tied for fifth.
 
• Alexis Strother is batting .308 on the season, good for fourth-best among OVC hitters who regularly occupy first base.