AUBURN, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky University's baseball team will begin its 2024 season with a three-game series against No. 15 ranked Auburn starting Friday at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama.
 
The series opener will begin at 7 p.m. ET.  Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.  The series finale will be Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.  All three games will air live on the SEC Network+.
 
The 2024 home-opener is slated for Feb. 23 against Oakland at Earle Combs Stadium.  Season tickets are on sale now.  The season ticket package guarantees fans the best seats for all 30 home games, including Kentucky's visit to Richmond, a home game against long-time rival Morehead State, two games against in-state rival Northern Kentucky and five Atlantic Sun Conference series.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU finished the 2023 season with a 29-30 record and a 15-15 mark in the ASUN.  The Colonels have won 67 games over the last two seasons, the winningest two-year period for the program since 1989 and 1990.
 
-  EKU has nine wins over top-30 ranked teams since the start of the 2016 season, including two last season.


-  Four of EKU's five infielders from 2023 either graduated or were drafted – Jalen Jones (2B), Will King (C), Charlie Ludwick (1B) and Logan Thomason (SS).  The group combined for 679 starts, 715 hits, 99 home runs, 492 RBIs and 476 runs during their Colonel careers.
 
-  EKU was fourth in the NCAA in 2023 with 57 double plays turned.  The Colonels were second in the ASUN, and 22nd in the country, with 331 walks drawn last season. EKU was third in the ASUN and 53rd in the nation with 87 home runs last season.
 
-  Left-handed junior Isaac Milburn will be EKU's opening day starter.  He was 4-4 with a 6.37 ERA last season.  Quinton Hall, a junior left-hander, will take the mound for game two.  He was 1-0 with a 3.93 ERA across 25 relief appearances in 2023.  Senior Rian Yates will start game three.  He went 1-2 with an 8.91 ERA a year ago.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Auburn went 34-23-1 last season and advanced to an NCAA Regional.  The Tigers are ranked No. 15 in the preseason by Perfect Game.
 
-  Sophomore catcher Ike Irish was chosen as a second team preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.  He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2023 after hitting a team-best .361 with 24 doubles, 50 RBIs and 48 runs.
 
-  Irish and Bobby Peirce earned spots on the preseason All-SEC team.  Peirce, an outfielder, batted .343 with 43 runs, five home runs and 26 RBIs a year ago.
 
-  Junior infielder Cooper McMurray is the top returning home run hitter for the Tigers.  He finished with 14 homers, 49 RBIs and 37 runs while hitting .272 in 2023.

-  Chase Allsup, a junior right-hander, is scheduled to start the opener for Auburn.  Last season he was 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 49 and one-third innings.  Joseph Gonzalez, a redshirt junior righty, will get the ball for game two.  He made one appearance in 2023 and did not allow a run in five innings.  Carson Myers, a transfer from UAB, will start game three.  The junior left-hander was 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA across 71 and two-thirds innings for the Blazers in 2023.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU leads the all-time series 1-0.
 
-  The only meeting between the two teams came on March 1, 1991 in Macon, Georgia.  The Colonels earned a 2-1 win.