FORT MYERS, Fla. – Eastern Kentucky University's baseball team is making a trip to the Sunshine State for a 3-game Atlantic Sun Conference series at third place Florida Gulf Coast University this weekend.
 
The first game is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m.  Game two will be Saturday at 2 p.m.  The series finale is set for Sunday at 12 p.m.  All three games will air live on ESPN+.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (17-32, 11-13 ASUN) saw its 5-game winning streak come to an end with a 9-7 loss to Northern Kentucky on Tuesday.  The Colonels are tied for seventh in the conference standings.
 
-  Isaac Milburn hasn't allowed a run in his last four appearances, totaling 9 2/3 innings.  He has allowed four hits, walked four and struck out 12.
 
-  Ron Franklin Jr. has a 16-game hitting streak.  Over the last 16 games, Franklin is hitting .448 with nine home runs, 31 RBIs and 17 runs scored.  He is slugging .966 and has a .558 on-base percentage.

-  In his last 10 games, catcher Silas Shaffer is hitting .441 (15-for-34) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and four runs scored.  He is slugging .735 and has a .513 on-base percentage during that time.
 
-  Freshman lefty Bradley Stewart will start the series opener.  He has struck out 10 hitters in his last 6 1/3 innings on the mound.  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 is coming off a quality start of six innings with two runs allowed on four hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Florida Gulf Coast is 23-23 overall and 15-9 in ASUN play.  The Eagles are tied with Stetson and Jacksonville for third in the league standings.  FGCU swept JU at home last weekend.
 
-  Designated hitter Ian Farrow leads the team in average (.385), home runs (13), slugging (.793), walks (34) and on-base percentage (.519).
 
-  Shortstop Jacob Lojewski leads the squad in doubles (20) and RBIs (44), and is second in average (.313).
 
-  Nick Love has the most appearances out of the bullpen with 16.  The right-handed grad student is 3-2 with a 5.51 ERA and one save in 32 and 2/3 innings.

-  Davian Garcia will make his sixth start of the season in the series opener for FGCU.  The junior right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings.  Cameron Bye will start for the third time this season on Saturday.  The senior righty is 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA over 26 innings.  Sunday's starter will be Chase Kriebel.  The sophomore left-hander is 3-2 with a 5.98 ERA in 12 starts this year.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU leads the series between the two teams 2-1.  The Colonels won the 3-game series played in Richmond last season.
 
-  After beating No. 15 ranked FGCU 8-7 in the first game of a doubleheader on April 15, 2023 to clinch the series, the Eagles won the second game 23-7.  Charlie Ludwick hit a 2-run home run and Roderick Criss II finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.  Mac Moise hit two home runs and drove in five for Florida Gulf Coast.