RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will attempt to lock up a spot in next week's Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in its final series of the season against Jacksonville, which begins Thursday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Due to poor weather conditions expected on Friday and Saturday, the teams will now play a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 3 p.m.  The day and time for game three of the series will be determined based on the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday..
 
Thursday will be Fan Appreciation Day at the ballpark.  Tickets are just $2, there will be a pom pom giveaway sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, an EKU trading card giveaway and there will be nine innings of winnings with prize drawings. 
 
The entire series will be Teachers In The Bleachers presented by Richmond Centre Chick-Fil-A.  Educators from Madison County and surrounding communities can receive two FREE tickets to any of the games by clicking this link.
 
Senior Day is scheduled for Saturday.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (19-34, 12-15 ASUN) beat in-state rival Morehead State, 14-5, on Tuesday.  The Colonels have won seven of their last 10 games.
 
-  Freshman outfielder Tait Nunnally is hitting .333 with four doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games.  He was 3-for-6 with a home run, a double, two runs and four RBIs at Morehead State.
 
-  In his last 10 games, second baseman Justin Carinci his hitting .439 with 15 runs, five doubles, one home run and eight RBIs.  He went 4-for-5 with his first home run of the season, three runs scored and four RBIs at Morehead State on Tuesday.

-  Freshman Elijah Underhill has struck out nine in his last two appearances, a total of 5 2/3 innings.  He has a 1.59 ERA over that stretch.
 
-  Isaac Milburn will start the series opener.  He is 1-3 with 43 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings this season.  Milburn hasn't allowed a run in his last five appearances and has struck out 15 over the last 11 1/3 innings.  Starters for Friday and Saturday have not been determined.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Jacksonville is 24-27 overall and 17-10 in ASUN games.  The Dolphins are tied for second with Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast, and just one game behind league leader Austin Peay with three to go.
 
-  Justin Nadeau leads the team with a .395 batting average, but hasn't played since April 13 at Austin Peay.  Josh Steidl leads the Dolphins in home runs (8) and  RBIs (47).
 
-  Jacksonville is last in the ASUN in doubles (69) and 11th among 12 teams in home runs (33).  However, the Dolphins lead the league in walks (281) and stolen bases (89) and are fourth in runs scored (344).
 
-  Isaac Williams has a team-high five saves and has made 21 relief appearances.  He is 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.

-  Jacksonville's starting pitchers for the series have not been announced.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Jacksonville holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series.  The first meeting between the two programs was in March of 1972 in Jacksonville.  The two teams have never played each other in Richmond.
 
-  In the most recent meeting, on April 8, 2023, Roderick Criss II hit a sacrifice fly in the 14th inning to give the Colonels a 5-4 victory on the Dolphins' home field.  Charlie Ludwick went 2-for-5 with two walks, two runs and an RBI for EKU.  Chase Malloy finished 2-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs for JU.