OVC baseball has entered Week 4 of Play with some of the top three teams in the conference already living up to their preseason picks.  

Tennessee Tech was picked to finish eighth out of the nine teams in the preseason. However, they seem quite promising as they sit at the top of the conference with a 10-0 nonconference record. Last Sunday, the Golden Eagles completed the three-game sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne with a 15-7 victory.  

The Golden Eagles lead the conference in team batting with a .354 average, Sophomore infielder Ed Johnson currently leads the conference in individual batting with a .480 average. Johnson has had 24 hits in 50 at-bats and has 14 RBI and three homeruns.  

Southeast Missouri was picked to finish first in the conference. The Redhawks are second in the conference with a 10-1 overall record after winning 14-6 Tuesday afternoon against Arkansas State. The Redhawks are second in the conference for team batting with a .298 average and fifth in the conference in team pitching with an ERA of 5.94 

Belmont, who was picked to finish fifth, is currently third in the conference with a 10-3 overall record. The Bruins are on a two-game losing streak after losing the last two games of their three-game series against Dayton. The Bruins currently lead the conference in team pitching with a 2.42 ERA. 

Eastern Illinois is currently fourth in the conference with an overall record of 7-3. The Panthers are on a four-game winning streak with their most recent win, 4-2, over Illinois Tuesday afternoon. Left-handed pitcher Trevor Nicholson leads the conference in individual pitching with a 0.75 ERA in three starts.  

Murray State has posted an 8-4 overall record thus far this season, earning them fifth place in the conference. The Racers are on a four-game losing streak after getting swept by Alabama and losing to Kentucky 9-1 Tuesday afternoon. The Racers are third in the conference in team batting with a .293 average. 

The teams at the bottom half of the conference are close in record. SIUE is 6-5 overall and is currently on a one game losing streak after losing 18-13 to Southern Illinois, earning them sixth place. Senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Bruninga is third overall in the conference in individual pitching with a 1.42 ERA in four starts. 

Morehead state is 6-6 and seventh in the conference with a two-game winning streak after sweeping their two-game series against Eastern Michigan. Redshirt Freshman Nick Gooden leads the team in batting with a .387 average.  

Austin Peay is eighth in the conference with a 6-7 overall record after losing their first game of a two-game series to Lipscomb. Senior catcher Jack Alexander leads the team with a .413 batting average.  

Last place in the conference belongs to UT-Martin. The Skyhawks are 4-7 after dropping two of three games to North Alabama and losing 1-6 to Illinois State. Sophomore catcher Cameron Brady leads the way for the Skyhawks with a .375 batting average. 

Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or acschulz@eiu.edu.