Baseball Travels to Eastern Illinois for Crucial Series This Weekend

SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE STATS, STREAMING)

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Just two weekends remain in the regular season for the Morehead State baseball team, and every game ahead holds postseason implications for the Eagles and other teams around the conference. This weekend, Morehead State hits the road for yet another crucial three-game series, taking on the Eastern Illinois Panthers in Lincoln Land. 

After falling to the Panthers in last season's OVC Tournament Championship Game, the Eagles could have revenge on their minds this weekend. 

Friday's opener is set for 4:00 PM ET, with both Saturday's game and Sunday's finale set to begin at 2:00 PM ET. Only Sunday's finale will be live streamed on ESPN+, but fans can follow live stats for Friday & Saturday's contests. 

2024 SEASON RECORDS & OVC STANDING

• Morehead State (28-20, 12-9 OVC) T-3rd
• Eastern Illinois (15-30, 9-12 OVC) 8th

LAST 10 GAMES & CURRENT STREAK

• Morehead State (7-3) L1
• Eastern Illinois (2-8) L4

SERIES HISTORY

• Morehead State and Eastern Illinois met five times in 2023, with the Eagles finishing 3-2 vs. the Panthers. 
• Morehead State defeated EIU 2-1 in the regular season series at Sonny Allen Field last season. 
• MSU defeated EIU in its first game at the OVC Tournament last season but fell in the OVC Tournament Title game. 
• Morehead State's last trip to Charleston ended with a 10-3 win over EIU, clinching the series in 2022. 
• Morehead State has won each of the last two series it has played at EIU (2018, 2022).

NOTABLE

• Morehead State's Roman Kuntz has put together one of the best offensive seasons in the history of both the program and Ohio Valley Conference in 2024. Currently, Kuntz is tied for fourth in the country in home runs, leading the OVC with 26. He is one homer shy of tying the single season MSU & OVC record of 27 home runs held by Niko Hulsizer. 
• Kuntz is also the OVC leader with 76 RBI, which is six RBI shy of the MSU single season record (82, Hulsizer, 2017), and 10 shy of the OVC record. 
• Ryley Preece has become MSU's all-time leader in five categories this season (home runs, runs scored, total bases, extra base hits, and walks), and is on the cusp of becoming the OVC's all-time leader in runs scored. Preece has scored 77 runs this season and 240 in his career, and sits two runs shy of becoming the OVC's all-time leader. 
• Preece is also two runs shy of setting the MSU record for runs scored in a season, a record currently held by Chris Robinson (78, 2015). 
• Colton Becker is having a career year at the plate, with career highs in home runs (11), doubles (19), stolen bases (24), and RBI (51). 
• Nick Gooden is having his best season of his career, with a career high 71 hits including 15 doubles and eight home runs. 
• Luke Helton has moved into a tie for second in Morehead State history in wins, winning his 20th game on Friday vs. UT Martin. 
• Hayden Robbins has put together a great first season of play at MSU. After redshirting in 2023, Robbins is among the team leaders in nearly every offensive category.