Live Broadcast (ESPN+):  Saturday  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes

RICHMOND, Ky. – Two teams tied for first in the ASUN Conference West Division will meet in Richmond this week when Eastern Kentucky host Central Arkansas for a 3-game series at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
The series will begin on Thursday at 6 p.m.  Game two is set for 4 p.m. on Friday.  The series finale will be Saturday at noon and will air live on ESPN+.
 
Thursday will be White Effects at the ballpark.  Join the team in wearing white to the game.  FREE white t-shirts will be given out while supplies last.  Friday is Bark In The Park night.  Bring your dog out to the stadium and receive a free dog bandana.  There will be an Easter Egg Hunt on the field after Saturday's game.
 
The Lexington Legends will play the Wild Health Genomes at Earle Combs at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Tickets can be purchased at EKUSports.com/2022BaseballTix or call 844-3-GOBIGE.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
 
THE COLONELS
-  Kendal Ewell is second in the ASUN with a .388 average, third in hits (47), fourth in on-base percentage (.486), fifth in slugging (.612), tied for ninth in home runs (6) and tied for 10th in runs (29).
 
-  Eastern Kentucky is second in the ASUN in walks drawn (160), fourth in slugging (.412), fourth in on-base percentage (.372), fourth in home runs (29) and fifth in runs (192).
 
-  Rese Brown is second in the ASUN in strikeouts (53), fifth in strikeouts per nine (11.36) and tied for second in wins (4).
 
-  Logan Thomason started slow, hitting .207 (6-for-29) with one extra-base hit, one RBI and five runs scored in his first eight games.  In 23 games since, he is hitting .329 (28-of-85) with 11 extra-base hits, 25 runs, 23 RBIs, 16 walks and a .442 on-base percentage.
 
-  Freshman Isaac Milburn will start Thursday's game, Michael Schuler will get the ball for game two and Brown is scheduled to start the series finale against Central Arkansas.  Milburn, a left-hander, is 1-1 with a 5.33 ERA.  Schuler, a right-hander, is 4-2 with a 4.86 ERA on the season.  Brown is 4-3 with a 4.07 ERA.  The righty has 53 strikeouts in 42 innings of work.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Central Arkansas is 14-17 overall and 8-4 in league games.  The Bears have won two of three from each of their four ASUN opponents – Bellarmine, Lipscomb, North Alabama and Jacksonville State.
 
-  UCA plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday to beat JSU 5-4.  RJ Pearson's single to right field drove in the winning run.  The Bears knocked off Little Rock, 11-5, on Tuesday.  Drew Sturgeon was 3-for-5 with a run, a 2-run home run and five total RBIs.
 
-  First baseman Hunter Hicks has driven in a team-high 25 runs and leads the team with a .301 average.  Left fielder Connor Emmet has a team-best six home runs and 21 runs scored.
 
-  The Bears have stolen 41 bases in 52 attempts.  Their opponents have 34 steals this season.
 
-  UCA has a .248 team batting average and has made 10 more errors than its opponents.
 
-  Staff ace Tyler Cleveland will get the ball for game one.  The sophomore right-hander is 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA.  In 51 and one-third innings he has allowed 45 hits, 16 earned runs and 12 walks while striking out 52.  Jesse Barker, a sophomore righty, is scheduled to start game two.  He is 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA.  The game three starter has not been determined.