RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's baseball team will host Queens University of Charlotte for a 3-game Atlantic Sun Conference series this weekend at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
The series opener on Friday is set to begin at 6 p.m.  Game two of the series on Saturday is also a 6 p.m. start.  The finale on Sunday will get underway at 1 p.m.
 
Friday will be Military Appreciation Night.  There will be an EKU Vets tailgate before the game.  All active duty, retired or veteran members of any military organization can receive two FREE tickets by clicking here.  Baseball Bingo also returns on Friday, with the first three winners taking home EKU baseball mini bats. 
 
As part of Alumni Weekend, the 1984 and 1989 EKU baseball teams will be recognized during Saturday's game. 
 
Sunday will be Kids Day.  All kids 12 and under receive FREE admission and get to run the bases after the game.  The second EKU baseball trading card giveaway will also be on Sunday.  There will also be a postgame movie, with Barbie being shown on the big screen.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (9-23, 6-6 ASUN) just missed winning a road ASUN Conference series with a 3-2 loss in the series finale on  Sunday.
 
-  In his last 14 games, center fielder Ron Franklin Jr. is batting .352 with six home runs, five doubles, 17 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

-  EKU is third in the ASUN with 66 doubles.  The Colonels have seven more than fourth place Florida Gulf Coast and just three fewer than second place Stetson.  Three Colonels rank among the top-10 in the league individually.
 
-  Conner Davis leads EKU with a .359 batting average and 23 runs scored.  He is tied for first in the ASUN with three triples, tied for second with 12 doubles and tied for eighth with 42 hits.
 
-  Sophomore Nathan Lawson will start on Friday.  He is 3-2 with a 6.98 ERA.  Ryker Walton, a junior right-hander, will get the ball for game two of the series.  He is 2-2 with a 6.17 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 35 innings.  Sunday's starter has not been determined.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Queens (8-24, 4-8 ASUN) has lost three straight.  The Royals do have a series victory over Florida Gulf Coast on their resume.  Queens lost two of three at Lipscomb last weekend and fell 6-3 in a midweek game at High Point on Tuesday.
 
-  Dillon Lewis, a junior outfielder, leads the team in batting average (.383), RBIs (33) and is tied for the team lead with nine home runs.
 
-  The Royals have allowed their opponents to hit .304 this season with a .445 on-base percentage and a .527 slugging percentage.
 
-  Joseph Rodriguez has been the most called upon arm out of the bullpen this season.  He has made 16 appearances and is 0-0 with one save.  The right-hander has an 8.65 ERA across 26 innings, allowing 43 hits and 33 runs.

-  Sophomore right-hander Landry Jurecka is scheduled to start the opener for Queens.  He is 2-5 with a 7.29 ERA, but has struck out 45 in 42 innings over eight starts.  Carson Magill, a freshman righty, will get the ball for game two.  He is 1-3 with a 6.95 ERA this season.  Jack Renaud will start the finale.  The freshman right-hander is 0-2 with an 8.13 ERA.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  The Colonels are 3-0 all-time against Queens, with all three meetings coming during the 2023 season in Charlotte.
 
-  In the most recent meeting, the Colonels completed a 3-game sweep of Queens with an 11-6 win on May 7, 2023.  Down 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Will King gave the visitors a lead they would never relinquish with a two-run home run over the wall in right center.  Roderick Criss II had a 2-for-5 day with three RBIs.  King went 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs and two RBIs.  As a team, EKU drew 12 walks in the game.