With two wins over Jacksonville State this weekend, Eastern’s softball team will clinch the regular season Ohio Valley Championship.

The winner of the regular season championship hosts the conference tournament. Eastern is currently two games ahead of Jacksonville. Both teams have six games remaining this season including the three-game series this weekend.

Head coach Kim Schuette said this is a big weekend for the Panthers. They have to, play well if they are going to secure home field advantage.

“We have to relax (mentally) and play the game with energy,” Shuette said.

Eastern is currently 34-9 overall and 21-3 in the OVC, while the Gamecocks are 34-13 overall and 19-5 in conference.

Jacksonville has won six of its last eight games, but it lost its most recent game with the University of Tennessee-Martin 0-8 in five innings.

Last season the Panthers beat the Gamecocks in their only two meetings. They won 3-1 and 6-4 in a doubleheader sweep. The third game of the series was rained out.

Jacksonville is led in hitting by Kristin Graham. She is hitting .409 in 40 games this season, with 13 home runs and 32 RBI’s. Despite the 13 home runs Graham is not the Gamecocks’ best slugger. Amanda Crow is hitting .336 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI’s.

Crow is tied for the OVC lead in home runs and RBI’s and she leads the conference in slugging percentage.

Shuette said for the Panthers to be successful they need to concentrate from the beginning.

“We need to play to win from the first pitch,” Shuette said.

Jacksonville’s pitching staff is led by Tiffany Harbin. Harbin has posted a 2.61 ERA in 33 appearances. Her overall record stands at 21-7 and she has struck out 206 batters in 163.2 innings.

The Panthers are led offensively by sophomore outfielder Melise Brown. Brown is hitting .401 this season, which ranks fourth in the OVC. She also has seven home runs and 26 RBI’s.

Eastern’s team is led by its pitching staff, the Panthers have the third best ERA in the nation at 1.16. Senior pitcher Amber May and freshman pitcher Stephanie Maday have anchored the team.

May is 18-4 with an OVC leading 1.30 ERA, while Maday is 13-4 with a 1.53 ERA. Game one of Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Williams Field.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or at [email protected]