It’s a big weekend for Ohio Valley Conference baseball.

Six OVC baseball teams are all within two games of each other.

And Eastern is tied for third with Austin Peay.

Eastern will play its last OVC game against Eastern Kentucky University this Friday and Saturday before heading into the tournament.

Head coach Jim Schmitz already has his game plan ready: He’s not changing a thing.

Schmitz is going to stick with what works, and right now that’s the regular routine.

“We’ve made a lot of changes over the season, and now we have the line-up that gives us the best chance of scoring,” Schmitz said.

Eastern’s previous line-up was defensive-oriented – but lacked scoring.

This will be Eastern’s first series this season against EKU, and the team might have its work cut out for them.

“They are a good offensive running team, and they have one of the best pitchers,” Schmitz said. “But they have been struggling lately in some big series.”

Playing a series can take a lot out of players. EKU has to play a double-header one day, then turn around the next day to play another.

“Double-headers are hard,” Schmitz said. “Sometimes, the guys can be on the field for eight hours.”

The Panthers should be used to it now, considering this is their ninth series this season.

EKU is leading the OVC in stolen bases with 108 of 131 attempts.

That doubles more than half of the other teams, and junior pitcher Christian Friedrich is leading the OVC with individual pitching (1.59) for the Colonels.

However, the Panthers as a team are leading the OVC with team pitching (4.44).

Junior Brett Nommenson has the best batting average for the Panthers (.378), which lands him sixth overall in the OVC.

Nommenson is not worried about the upcoming game against EKU.

“I feel confident for how we have been playing,” Nommenson said. “It’s nice not worrying about getting a sweep.”

The Panthers are guaranteed a spot in the OVC tournament, no matter what the outcome may be this weekend.

Molly Clutter can be reached at 581-7944 or at mkclutter@eiu.edu.