CONWAY, Ark. – Atlantic Sun Conference play will begin for Eastern Kentucky University with a 3-game series at Central Arkansas this weekend.
 
Friday's series opener is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.  Saturday's game will start at 5 p.m. ET.  Sunday's series finale will get underway at 2 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (2-15) lost at No. 5 Tennessee on Tuesday, the Colonels' seventh game of the season against a top-25 ranked team.
 
-  Senior outfielder/designated hitter Max Williams has reached base safely in 14 straight games.

-  Miguel Larreal has an eight game hitting streak.  The senior first baseman is batting .471 with a .526 on-base percentage over his last five games.  He was 2-for-2 at Tennessee.
 
-  Left-hander Quinton Hall pitched an inning of scoreless relief at Tennessee.  He struck out two batters and allowed two hits.
 
-  Sophomore right-hander Nathan Lawson will start on Friday.  He is 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA.  Saturday's starter is scheduled to be junior righty Ryker Walton, who is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.  Sunday's starter has not been determined.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Central Arkansas is 7-10 overall and has lost six straight.  The Bears were swept at home by Missouri State last weekend, but none of the three games were decided by more than two runs.
 
-  Center fielder Drew Sturgeon leads the team in batting average (.348), home runs (4) and RBIs (17).
 
-  Corner infielder AJ Mendolia is hitting just .233 but has a .439 on-base percentage.  He has drawn 15 walks and leads the team with 17 runs scored.
 
-  Hunter Alexander has pitched strong out of the bullpen.  He is 2-1 with a 1.54 ERA and two saves in eight relief appearances.  The sophomore right-hander has struck out 23 in 11 2/3 innings of work.

-  Right-hander Jesse Barker is scheduled to start the opener on Friday.  He is 0-1 with a 3.91 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 innings.  Coleman MacRae, a sophomore righty, will start Saturday.  He is 0-1 with a 4.34 ERA across four starts.  Sunday's starter has not been determined.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Central Arkansas holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series.  The Colonels are 3-3 in games played in Conway.
 
-  In the last meeting between the two teams, the Bears secured the series win with a 2-1 victory on May 20, 2023.  DJ Sullivan went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run for EKU.  Sturgeon was 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs for UCA.