RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will host in-state rival Bellarmine for a 3-game Atlantic Sun Conference series starting Friday.
 
Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. ET.  Saturday and Sunday's games will begin at 1 p.m. each day.  The Sunday contest will air live on ESPN+.
 
Baseball Bingo is back on Friday, giving fans a chance to win an EKU Swag Bag.  Bark In The Park is set for Saturday.  Cheer on the Colonels with your favorite furry friend.  Pup cups, treats and frisbees/dog bowl mats will be given away. 
 
Sunday is Junior Colonel Club Day with members getting into the game for FREE.  Kids have a chance to be the "Play Ball" kid, guest public address announcer and can run the bases after the game.  The Kids Day Combo includes a hot dog, chips and drink for $8.  Sunday is also Greek Day with 7 Innings of Winnings.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU is now 9-24 this season after a 3-0 midweek loss at Vanderbilt on Tuesday.  The Colonels are 4-8 in ASUN games.
 
-  Shortstop Pedro Moreno leads the team with a .307 batting average, 31 runs and 10 stolen bases.  He is second on the team with 25 RBIs.
 
-  Khaleel Pratt was chosen as the ASUN Player of the Week on Monday.  In EKU's four games last week, the redshirt freshman outfielder hit .308 with four home runs, six RBIs, five runs scored, a 1.231 slugging percentage and a.500 on-base percentage.
 
-  Gavin Faulkner has made a team-high 17 appearances, all out of the bullpen.  He has struck out 26 in 21 1/3 innings.
 
-  The trio of Bradley Gagen, Jacob Price and Carson van Haaren started on the mound last weekend for the Colonels.  Gagen, a redshirt junior lefty, is 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA.  Price, a redshirt junior right-hander, leads the conference in innings pitched and is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA.  van Haaren, a sophomore right-hander, is 0-3 but has struck out 24 batters in 24 innings.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Bellarmine is 13-19 overall and sits at 6-6 in ASUN games.  The Knights lost two non-conference games earlier this week, but have won back-to-back conference series in Louisville over North Alabama and Lipscomb.
 
-  Bellarmine leads the conference in runs (241), and is third in batting average (.296) and home runs (39).
 
-  Shortstop Landon Akers makes the offense go, leading the team in average (.358), stolen bases (8) and runs scored (36).  AJ Swader, a first baseman and designated hitter, is hitting .353 with a team-best seven home runs and a team-high 38 RBIs.
 
-  Deaton Oak has made seven starts in eight appearances, going 1-2 with a 6.53 ERA.  Chase Carver has started seven times in his 10 appearances, posting a 1-4 record with an 8.27 ERA.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU leads the series with Bellarmine 27-13-1.  The first meeting came on April 1, 1981.  The Colonels are 19-4 in games played in Richmond.  The Knights have won three straight in the series, with all three games played in Louisville.
 
-  Bellarmine won the most recent meeting, 10-9, on May 17, 2025.  EKU overcame a 7-1 deficit with eight runs in the seventh inning, but couldn't hold off the Knights.  Julius Scearce went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.  Luke Scales had a 3-for-5 game with three runs and two RBIs for the Knights.