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RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's baseball team will open its 2014 season on Friday with a three-game series at Alabama State University.

Friday's series opener is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. ET. Saturday's game will begin at 2 p.m. ET and the series finale on Sunday will start at 2 p.m. ET as well.

Alabama State has eight starters returning from last year's squad that finished 32-25 overall and 18-6 in the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC).

The Colonels look to improve on 2013's post-season run that surprised many around the Ohio Valley Conference. EKU entered the OVC tournament as a No. 5 seed, but upset No. 1 seed Tennessee Tech on its way to the championship round, finishing with a 23-34 record.

After starting OVC play 2-7, EKU won 14 of its last 20 regular season conference games to finish 16-13 in the league. Of the six losses during that span, none were by more than five runs and four were by three runs or less.

Two likely keys for success in 2014 are seniors Sean Hagen and Bryan Soloman. Hagen was named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List as one of the nation's top catchers and earned first team All-OVC honors in 2013. He hit .353 and with 41 RBIs. Hagen was also a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Award, given to the breakout player of the year. Soloman was selected to the 2013 All-OVC Tournament team. He hit .302 and scored 33 runs last season.

The Colonels must replace right fielder Shaun Ball, a first team All-OVC selection, who led the club in home runs (10) and RBIs (49). All-OVC Tournament selection Alex Hughes (.317, 3 HR, 26 RBIs) will also be missed. The Colonels lose the OVC's second best in steals (22) in Austin Grisham. Grisham scored 40 runs and hit .270 in 2013.

"Last year, we were pretty young to begin," head coach Jason Stein said. "Those players grew up quite a bit."

Sophomores Kenny Hostrander (.298, 32 R, 28 RBIs), Luke Wurzelbacher (.312, 5 HR, 31 RBIs), Doug Teegarden (.287, 43 R, 29 RBIs) and Kyle Nowlin (.295, 37 R, 26 RBIs) were key contributors to last year's late season surge and successful postseason run.

Hostrander, Teegarden and Nowlin earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors. Nowlin was also named OVC Rookie of the Year.

"We have a good mix," Stein said. "From young, to a little more experienced, to seniors that are very experienced."

Stein brought in a group of talented freshmen from around the state, as well as several transfers and expects several of the newcomers to contribute right away.

The Colonels will be challenged early and often throughout the 2014 season, taking on the University of Louisville and the University of South Carolina with nearly the first month of play spent away from the Turk.

"We schedule these games, not to compete," Stein said. "We schedule them to win."

PITCHING
On the mound, the Colonels lose a 12 game starter in Shane Grimm. He posted a 5-5 record in 2013 and recorded 73 innings for the Colonels. Other losses include Austin Rexroat (0-1, 9.1 IP) and Chase Greene (0-0, 1.0 IP).

Three seniors are slated to be the weekend starters for the 2014 season. Brent Cobb (7-6, 3.69 ERA), Myles Scott (3-3, 3.54) and newcomer Tanner Perkins.

Cobb led the team last year with eight quality starts. Scott excelled in the bullpen last season before making two late season starts. He put together a stretch of nine straight relief appearances without allowing an earned run. Perkins is in his first season as a Colonel, after transferring from Western Kentucky University.

Senior Anthony Bazzani will likely return after missing most of last season due to injury.

The mid-week starters will vary. Seniors Matt Lynch (2-5, 56.1 IP) and Jake Hall (5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA) add experience and will likely see many innings. Juniors Cody Creamer (2-2, 31.2 IP) and Ben Gullo (2-3, 60.1 IP) are potential mid-week starters and strong bullpen options. Cameron Langfels will return, after suffering a season-ending injury early last season. Stein also has sophomores Chris Cervantes (31.0 IP, 21 APP), Eric Nerl (27.2 IP, 17 APP) and Trey Salisbury (8.0 IP, 7 APP) to call upon.

CATCHERS
Sean Hagen will serve as the No. 1 catcher. Hagen started 49 games, including 42 times behind the plate, in the 2013 season. Stein believes that freshmen Logan Starnes and Kyle Kramer can give Hagen a break occasionally from catching, but his bat will always be in the lineup.

INFIELDERS
The Colonels return three starters from last year's infield. Freshman Ben Fisher will get the nod at first base, replacing Hughes. Fisher will join second baseman Hostrander, shortstop Wurzelbacher and third baseman Teegarden.

Wurzelbacher started the last 20 games of the season and hit safely in 15 of those.

OUTFIELDERS
Nowlin is the lone returning outfielder. Sophomore TJ Alas will get the opportunity to take over in right field for Ball. Alas played in 19 games his freshman season. He had a pinch hit home run against Austin Peay in last year's OVC Tournament. Freshmen Shea Sullivan and Taylor Blair will see time in center field.