RICHMOND, Ky. – The first home game of the 2026 college baseball season for Eastern Kentucky University will be Tuesday against Northern Kentucky.
 
The game will begin at 3 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.
 
There will be a FREE EKU mesh hat giveaway.  It will also be $2 Day.  Tickets, popcorn, hotdogs and beer are just $2.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU began the season by winning one of its three games at Alabama State.  The Colonels beat the Hornets, 14-7, in the series finale.
 
-  Redshirt freshman Dylan Littlefield hit a team-best .417 during the first weekend of the season, driving in five runs and scoring twice.
 
-  Outfielder Jay Douglas hit .333 with a team-high four runs scored to go along with two stolen bases and two RBIs.

-  Newcomers Griffin Howell and Jack Bell both pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the Alabama State series.  Neither allowed a hit in their first appearances as Colonels.
 
-  Cooper Pumphrey, a 6-foot-7 freshman right-hander will start on the mound.  He made his collegiate debut on Saturday at Alabama State, allowing two unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning pitched.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  NKU opened the season by winning one of three at South Carolina.  All three games were close with the Norse falling 5-2 and 6-5 before winning the finale 3-2.
 
-  Mark Nowak, a sophomore outfielder, batted a team-high .417 during the opening weekend.  Jake Paulick, a redshirt junior catcher, hit .300 and scored two runs.
 
-  Gabe Stout, a newcomer who played previously at Indiana Wesleyan, made two appearances out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit or a run.  The senior right-hander struck out one in 1 1/3 innings and earned the save against the Gamecocks.
 
-  Gerald Hanson will get the ball for the Norse.  The senior lefty pitched two innings on Friday at South Carolina, allowing two runs on three hits.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU is 31-20-1 all-time against the Norse.  The two teams split a pair of games last season with each winning on their own home field.  The Colonels won 9-6 on April 8, 2025 in Richmond.
 
-  Jackson Ginther's grand slam fueled a 7-run fourth inning in that victory.  Hayden Collins pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Colonels.  Josh Williams finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs for NKU.