Around the Ohio Valley: May 7

Here is your weekly rundown of headlines from around the Ohio Valley. We've got lots about softball. With the championships coming up next weekend, don't forget to vote on our poll for who you think is this year's MVP.

Got a story we missed? Send it to us, and we'll post it!

• APSU's Carrie Burggraf was awarded one of just 174 Postgraduate Scholarships awarded by the NCAA. The senior Pole Vaulter is one of the most decorated athletes at Austin Peay; Designated Hitter Matt Kole was named CoSida Academic All-District First Team; Catie Cozart, sophomore shortstop was named to the CoSida Academic All-District Second Team.
  
• EIU Panthers men's and women's track team head to Billy Hayes Invitational at Indiana University this weekend to try to improve upon times this season before the regional meet in two weeks; EIU baseball travels to Jacksonville State for the first time since 2007 for its final OVC matchup. The team is currently in 6th place, while JSU is in 3rd.
• Eastern Kentucky softball will matchup with Austin Peay this weekend, as the two teams battle for one of two spots remaining in the OVC tournament. The Lady Govs (15-33, 7-12 OVC) are a half-game in front of Eastern in the seventh spot. The Colonels (13-33, 7-13 OVC) are currently in eighth place. EKU will need help from other teams in order to get in.
• JSU's Todd Cunningham tied the Ohio Valley Conference career triples record with 16 earlier in the game and finished with three hits to lead the Gamecocks in a 13-11 loss to Troy. The Gamecocks had a 9-5 lead but the Trojans rallied with four runs in the seventh inning to beat the third place OVC team.
• Coach Donnie Tyndall and the rest of Eagle Nation at Morehead State is anxiously awaiting the decision of Kenneth Faried, who has until May 8 to either turn professional and enter the NBA draft or use his final year of eligibility at MSU. As Faried was a big reason the team made it to the OVC championship game, the decision is a major one for the program.
• Murray Senior Wes Cunningham has been named to the CoSida Academic All-District First Team for the third straight year; The Murray women's golf team is competing in its second round of the NCAA regional in Columbus, Ind. Murray shot a 336 in round one for a spot in 22nd place.
• Southeast Missouri baseball (27-17) will dip out of conference this weekend for a three-game series against Big 12 foe Nebraska (20-24). This weekend marks the first time these two teams have met. SEMO is currently in first place in the OVC; Seniors Jim Klocke and Kyle Gumieny were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Baseball Team Thursday.
• SIU Carbondale swept the SIUe Cougars baseball team, to extend its nine-game losing streak. SIUE scored twice in the top of the fifth inning to get back on top 5-4, but couldn't hold the lead. The teams travels to Bradley for a double header Saturday.
• The Tennessee State softball team will conclude the 2010 regular season on the road at Jacksonville State this weekend. The Tigers' final home games of the season scheduled for this past weekend were cancelled due to the weather conditions in the Nashville area.
• Tennessee Tech softball needs at least two wins this weekend to guarantee themselves a spot in the OVC tournament. The Golden Eagles currently sit in the sixth and final spot, Murray State is in the fifth seed, half a game ahead of Tech. The Golden Eagles are 1.5 games ahead of seventh place Austin Peay and two games ahead of eighth-place Eastern Kentucky.
• UT Martin women's basketball coach Kevin McMillan will take his young Skyhawks, which will include 10 freshman next year, on a summer foreign tour to Ottawa, Canada with the hopes of building team chemistry. With the "youngest team" in the league last year, McMillan was able to guide his team to the NCAA tournament. Coach will face a similar test next season.