Live Stats I Live Audio (Friday Only)

RICHMOND, Ky. – After taking two-of-three games on the road from Ohio Valley Conference foe Southeast Missouri last weekend, the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team returns home this weekend to host another conference rival, Eastern Illinois, in a three-game set at Turkey Hughes Field.

Friday’s game will begin at 3:00 p.m., Saturday’s game will begin at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale is set to get underway at 1:00 p.m.

EKU (14-16, 6-3 OVC) enters the weekend tied for second place in the OVC with Jacksonville State. The red-hot Colonels had reeled off seven straight wins and six straight conference wins before losing to SEMO, 9-7, in last Sunday’s finale.

Senior Jacob Daniel posted big numbers in the series against SEMO. The outfielder from Russellville, Ala. pounded out four extra-base hits and drove in six runs to pace an EKU offense that currently leads the OVC with 41 home runs and a .472 slugging percentage. Daniel now leads EKU with 30 RBI on the season.

Senior Richie Rodriguez, however, continues to lead the Colonels in almost every other offensive category. The shortstop from Miami, Fla. is batting .360 (.400 against conference pitchers) with 10 home runs and 31 runs scored.

Another senior who has quietly started to swing a hot bat is Rodriguez’s high school teammate, Michael Garcia. Garcia is hitting .367 with six doubles during conference play, and he enters this weekend touting a team-best eight-game hitting streak.

EIU (13-17, 4-4 OVC) enters the series in sixth place in the OVC and splitting a two-game series with conference leader Austin Peay at home last weekend. Bad weather prevented EIU and APSU from playing a third game.

EIU relies on its pitching, as the Panthers currently lead the OVC with a 2.95 team ERA. Ryan Dineen (.336) and T.J. McManus (.310) pace the offense.

EKU will trot out senior right-hander Matt Harris (4-3, 5.13 ERA), the reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week, on Friday and junior left-hander Shane Grimm (3-4, 3.92 ERA) on Saturday. The Colonels’ Sunday starter has yet to be determined.

EIU will respond with right-hander Mike Hoekstra (2-2, 2.30 ERA) on Friday, left-hander Christian Slazinik (4-3, 2.70 ERA) on Saturday and right-hander Troy Barton (4-3, 1.73 ERA) on Sunday.

The Colonels lead the all-time series between the two schools, 26-25. EIU took two-of-three from EKU last year in Charleston, Ill.; however, the Colonels swept the Panthers two years ago in Richmond.