LIVE STATS: Game 1  |  Game 2  |  Game 3

LIVE VIDEO: Games 1 & 2

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State softball team will host Eastern Kentucky for a three-game series this weekend at University Field.

The Gamecocks return home to wrap up their 2013 home schedule with a three-game series  with Ohio Valley Conference East Division leader Eastern Kentucky at University Field. The Colonels come to JSU looking to keep up with the top of the pack in the race for the OVC's regular-season crown, while JSU hopes to turn things around from a recent skid and try and climb the standings before the conference tournament in two weeks.

The Gamecocks are currently tied for fifth in the league standings and would be the sixth seed in the eight-team conference tournament if it started today. EKU is in third but trails leader Eastern Illinois by three games with six to play.

JSU has dropped seven of its last eight games heading into the series and hopes it can gain some momentum before next month's OVC Championship. The Colonels pay a visit to University Field, where they have had little success in the past. In fact, the Gamecocks hold a 23-5 advantage in the all-time series and are 12-3 against EKU at home. JSU has won 14 of the last 15 meetings, with the only loss coming in a series last year that saw the Gamecocks claim two of the three meetings.

This weekend also marks the final home games in the careers of five members of the Gamecock softball team. Outfielder Krystal Ruth, infielders Kelci Johnston and Cara Longworth, designated player Jessica Guy and pitcher Hilary Phillips will all be honored in a pregame ceremony prior to Sunday's game. Ruth, Johnston and Phillips earned their degrees this semester and participated in Friday night's commencement ceremony.

Junior Tiffany Harbin will take the circle at University field for the first time since becoming JSU's all-time strikeouts leader last weekend at Eastern Illinois. The Hazel Green, Ala., native passed Ann Shelton at the top of the Gamecocks career strikeout list and now has 649 career strikeouts.

The Colonels have won five in a row and eight of their last nine heading into the weekend.