RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University steps back into Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend with a 3-game series at home against in-state rival Bellarmine.
 
The series is currently scheduled to begin on  Friday at 6 p.m.  Saturday's game is also currently scheduled for 6 p.m.  The series finale on Sunday is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.  The final two games of the series will air live on ESPN+.
 
Friday will be Bark In The Park at Earle Combs Stadium.  Fans are invited to bring their dog to the game and there will be a dog bowl giveaway.  Saturday will be Star Wars Night with a light saber giveaway.  Sunday will be Youth Sports Day with kids 12 and under receiving FREE admission.  There will be prize drawings each inning and a postgame autograph session on the field.  Youth Sports Day tickets are available by clicking here.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (14-31, 8-13 ASUN) is riding a 2-game winning streak after sweeping a midweek home-and-home series against Marshall.
 
-  EKU's pitching staff did not give up a home run in two games against Marshall.  The Colonels pitched to a 3.00 ERA, struck out 18, walked 11 and limited the Thundering Herd to a .190 batting average.
 
-  Ron Franklin Jr. has a 12-game hitting streak.  Over the last 12 games, Franklin is hitting .465 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs and 14 runs scored.  For the season, Franklin is tied for fifth in the ASUN with 15 home runs, is sixth with a .724 slugging percentage and tied for eighth with 44 RBIs.

-  In their last 16 games, the Colonels are batting .295 as a team.  EKU has 21 home runs, 29 doubles and a .397 on-base percentage during that span.
 
-  Freshman lefty Bradley Stewart will start the series opener.  He has struck out 26 batters in 16 innings.  Sophomore right-hander Nathan Lawson will get the ball in game two.  He is 4-4 on the season.  Ryker Walton is scheduled to start the finale.  The junior righty has struck out 35 in 44 1/3 innings.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Bellarmine is 7-37 this season and 6-15 in ASUN games.  The Knights lost 9-5 at home to Morehead State on Tuesday.  On Sunday, Bellarmine snapped an 8-game losing streak with a 10-4 win at home over Kennesaw State.
 
-  Will Aubel leads the team with a .356 average and 16 stolen bases.  Casey Sorg leads the Knights in home runs (11), RBIs (39) and runs (35) while hitting .341.
 
-  As a team, Bellarmine is last in the ASUN with an 11.19 ERA and last with 488 runs allowed.  BU pitchers have also struck out the fewest batters in the conference (226).  Opponents are hitting .355 against the Knights.
 
-  Bellarmine has committed the second-most errors in the ASUN this season (75).

-  Freshman Sam Matherly is scheduled to start the first game of the series for Bellarmine.  The right-hander is 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA across 14 appearances, including six starts.  He has allowed 37 hits and 32 runs in 24 innings.  Thomas Sylvester will start game two.  The left-hander is 0-1 with an 8.38 ERA in just 9 2/3 innings this season.  This will be his second start and eighth appearance.  Sunday's starter has not been determined.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  The Colonels lead the all-time series 22-9-1.  EKU is 14-3 against the Knights in games played in Richmond.  However, Bellarmine took two of three at Earle Combs Stadium last season.
 
-  In the last meeting between the two programs, Santiago Peralta had four hits in EKU's 8-0 win over Bellarmine on March 19, 2023.  He finished 4-for-4 with a run scored.  Cameron Kalandros pitched four shutout innings for the Colonels.  Sorg went 2-for-4 for the Knights.