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Eastern Illinois (22-8, 5-1 OVC) at Austin Peay (13-20, 6-3 OVC)
Clarksville, Tenn. | Raymond C. Hand Park

Game One | Thursday, Apr. 14, 6:00 p.m.
Livestats | Watch | Listen

Game Two | Friday, Apr. 15, 6:00 p.m.
Livestats | Watch | Listen

Game Three | Saturday, Apr. 16, 1:00 p.m.
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ON-TAP: Eastern Illinois baseball will take their 5-1 Ohio Valley Conference record to Clarksville, Tenn. this weekend as EIU takes on the Austin Peay Governors in a three-game series held at Raymond C. Hand Park. The Panthers are currently in first place in the OVC while Austin Peay sits in fourth with a 6-3 record. EIU has won five of its last six games including two in a row and a series victory over fellow OVC member SIUE. The Governors are currently on a three game winning streak after sweeping UT Martin last weekend in OVC play.

PANTHERS TAKE DOWN VALPO: EIU won a midweek game on Tuesday against Missouri Valley opponent Valparaiso 7-5 behind five strong innings from starting pitcher Mac Hickman. Hickman has won his last two starts in Rantoul, including yesterday's win which saw him toss 5.0 innings while allowing one run, four hits, no walks and have three strikeouts. The Panthers pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts and only allowed two walks.

Dalton Doyle and Logan Eickhoff helped EIU on offense after both hit in two RBIs. Lucas DiLuca was also 3-4 on the day at the plate including a double in the third inning. Lincoln Riley, Nathan Aide, and DiLuca all scored two runs for EIU. After their win, Eastern Illinois now moves to 3-0 at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul, Ill.

OFFENSIVE STREAKS: Multiple Panthers were able to extend their hitting and on-base streaks in the win over Valparaiso on Tuesday. Nathan Aide now has the longest on-base streak on the team this season at 26 games. Aide was able to go 2-4 last game with two singles. He also is currently on a 15-game hitting streak this season which is the longest active streak on the team.

Nicholas Rucker has now reached on-base in 10 consecutive games this season. Rucker added two hits on Tuesday and was walked once in the win. Chris Worcester has the second longest active hitting streak on the team at six games. Lucas DiLuca and Aide both have 12 games with multiple hits this season, one shy of current leader Ryan Ignoffo at 13.

PRESEASON PANTHERS: Eastern Illinois' Logan Eickhoff and Cameron Doherty both earned preseason All-OVC earlier this offseason. Eickhoff was chosen at the utility position while Doherty was chosen for relief pitching. Eickhoff played in 31 games making 26 starters in the outfield. He was among OVC leaders with a .435 batting average before suffering a mid-season injury. Eickhoff returned on April 30 at SIUE and finished the season hitting .423 to become 23rd player in program history to hit .400 or better during a season. He held an on-base percentage of .463 and slugging percentage of .514.  Doherty posted a 3-2 record with a team high five saves during the season. He finished the season with a 3.45 ERA in 75.2 innings of work. He was also selected as the OVC preseason pitcher of the year for his performance last season.

PITCHING SUCCESS: EIU has been very successful on the mound this season helping the Panthers to their 22nd win of the season. After 30 games, EIU has the lowest ERA as a staff in the OVC at 4.06. Opponents are hitting .267 off of EIU pitchers which ranks third in the OVC. Although EIU is currently ranked seventh in innings pitched, the Panthers lead the conference in strikeouts at 282. Eastern also leads the OVC in runs allowed (133), earned runs allowed (115), and walks allowed (89).

LHP Trevor Nicholson has lead this EIU staff this season. He currently has a 1.74 ERA which leads the team and is second in the OVC. He is holding opponents to just hitting .185 off of him which is good for the best in the OVC.  Nicholson has struck out 64 batters this season which is good for first and has given up the least amount of hits in the OVC with just 27. His ERA ranks 25th nationally while also ranking 38th in hits allowed per nine innings at 5.88. Nicholson is also tied for 26th in the NCAA in strikeouts and 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (13.94 K/9).
 
SERIES HISTORY: The Panthers are currently losing the all-time series against Austin Peay with a record of 18-34. Austin Peay currently has a home record of 18-6 against Eastern at Raymond C. Hand Park. Last season EIU took two of three games from the Governors at Coaches Stadium. In the last 10 match-ups the two teams have split 5-5. This also marks the last time Austin Peay and EIU will play each other in the OVC as Austin Peay is leaving the conference to join the ASUN.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jack Alexander is leading the Governors on offense while hitting .408 in 33 games which ranks second in the OVC behind Ryan Ignoffo. He leads the OVC in on-base percentage at .493 and is second in hits with 49. His 34 RBIs are first on his team and are third in the OVC. 

Tyler Delong is starting Thursday's game against against the Panthers for Austin Peay. He has a 5.20 ERA in 12 appearances this season. He has started three games this season and has gone 2-1. With 27.2 innings pitched, he ranks fourth on Austin Peay in the category. Opponents are currently batting .269 against him. Delong has thrown 31 strikeouts  while only walking 13 this season.

ON DECK: EIU will be back in action for two midweek games in Rantoul, Ill. next week on Tuesday and Wednesday against McKendree and Roosevelt-Chicago. Livestats will be made available for both games.