The Eastern softball team will be playing its home opener Friday as one of the co-leaders of the OVC.

The Panthers, along with Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech, swept a three-game series to open conference play last weekend.

Eastern’s overall record of 10-4 is behind only Eastern Kentucky’s 11-3 start.

The Panthers will play Belmont (5-6, 1-2 OVC) Friday afternoon and then play a doubleheader Saturday.

Eastern’s offense has been a catalyst for their hot start.

The Panthers currently lead the conference with 22 home runs, eight more than the second-place team. The also rank first with a team slugging percentage of .542 and rank second in batting average and runs scored.

Eastern redshirt-sophomore Morgan Lewis leads the OVC with 21 hits while her teammates Hannah Cravens, Haley Mitchell and Megan Burton are tied for second in the OVC with 5 home runs.

Eastern’s pitching has also been among the best in the OVC.

The Panthers pitching staff ranks third in the conference with a team ERA of 2.73 and has only surrendered 10 walks, by far the fewest in the OVC.

Redshirt-senior Jade Montgomery ranks third in the conference with 43.1 innings pitched and her 2.58 ERA ranks eighth. Freshman Olivia Price leads the team with a 1.84 ERA, which ranks fourth in the OVC.

The game Friday will start at 4 p.m. from Williams Field.

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].