RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will host its second straight weekend series as Western Illinois comes to town.
 
Friday's series opener is set to begin at 4 p.m.  Game two of the series on Saturday is also a 4 p.m. start.  The finale on Sunday will get underway at 1 p.m.  Sunday game will air live on ESPN+. 
 
There will be an EKU mug giveaway with the purchase of a hot chocolate at Friday's contest.  Friday will also include Baseball Bingo, with the first three winners taking home EKU baseball mini bats.  There will be FREE popcorn on Saturday.  Sunday will be Dollar Hot Dog Day and Kids Day.  All kids 12 and under will receive FREE admission and can run the bases after the game.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (1-7) suffered a 12-3 loss at Louisville on Tuesday.
 
-  Senior third baseman Conner Davis leads the team with a .393 average and has had at least one hit in seven straight games.

-  Freshman Tait Nunnally hit his second home run of the season on Tuesday at Louisville, a 2-run shot.
 
-  Freshman Mauri Bejarano has posted a .500 on-base percentage through his first four games.
 
-  Sophomore Nathan Lawson will make his second start of the season on Friday.  The right-hander is 1-0 with an 8.59 ERA.  Ryker Walton, a junior righty, will start on Saturday.  He is 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA.  Sunday's starter has not been determined.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  The Leathernecks are 1-5 overall.  Western Illinois opened the season with a 6-5 win at Austin Peay, but has lost five straight, including a three-game weekend series against Saint Louis.
 
-  Center fielder Maxton Polad leads the team in average (.435), and RBIs (9).  He is slugging .739 and has a .552 on-base percentage.
 
-  Adam Juran his hitting just .231, but has two home runs and seven RBIs.
 
-  Caden Kratz has made three appearances and has one save.  He has posted a 1.42 ERA over six and one-third innings with six strikeouts.

-  Western Illinois has not announced its weekend rotation.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  The two programs have never met before.