After snapping its seven-game losing streak by stealing a 2-0 win from the Murray State Racers in the third game of the series on the road, the Eastern softball team is returning home to take on Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State in a pair of doubleheaders.

Eastern will take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and Morehead State on Sunday.

The Panthers’ seven-game losing streak included three shut out losses and one shortened game because of the run rule.

Sophomore pitcher Jessica Wireman got back on track in the game firing the two-hit shutout.

Wireman has lowered her ERA to 3.86 and got her record to 8-16. Wireman has pitched 127 innings for the Panthers and has recorded 108 strikeouts.

Also expected to be a go on the mound is sophomore Michelle Rogers. Rogers has a 5.47 ERA and has 36 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched.

The Panthers will have to be at their best this weekend as Eastern Kentucky has a perfect 10-0 record in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Colonels have three players batting over .370. Paige Murphy is the team’s top hitter with .436 average. The team also has some power with 16 home runs on the season.

Eastern has hit 15 home runs this season. Seniors April Markowski and Kylie Bennett each have five.

Hayley Flynn is the top pitcher with a 1.99 ERA and 112.1 innings pitched.

Eastern Kentucky’s last two OVC games came against Morehead The Colonels won by scores of 2-0 and 5-2. They beat Austin Peay and Murray State the week prior.

Morehead State also has a team that can hit. Robyn Leighton has a batting average of .404 and 18 RBIs.

The Eagles are 6-4 in OVC play with the last three games resulting in losses to Eastern Kentucky. Morehead State lost all three games by scores of 2-0, 8-1, and 5-2.

The Eagles rely on two pitchers for the most part with Mackenzie Grossman handling most of the innings with 104.2 innings pitched. She has a 3.28 earned run average.

The Panthers split with Morehead State last season in the two games the teams faced off in, but the Colonels came away with two wins in two games against Eastern last year.

Senior Katie Watson leads the Panthers’ offense with a 2.87 batting average.

Eastern will get underway with Eastern Kentucky at 1 p.m. on Saturday with the second game following right after at 3 p.m. The games with Morehead State are set for noon and 2 p.m.

Sean Hastings can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]