LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – For the second straight weekend, Little Rock will square off against one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top teams as the Trojans return home to host Eastern Illinois for a key three-game series at Gary Hogan Field.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a 4 p.m. game Saturday and a 1 p.m. finale Sunday.
Little Rock enters the weekend 20-17 overall and 8-4 in OVC play after battling first-place SIUE on the road last weekend. Eastern Illinois comes to town at 21-11 overall and 10-2 in league play, tied atop the conference standings. The Trojans are tied with SEMO for third and remain within striking distance as the second half of league play heats up.
This weekend also marks a return home for Little Rock, which has not played at Gary Hogan Field since March 29 after three consecutive OVC series on the road.
GAME INFO
Who: Little Rock (20-17, 8-4 OVC) vs. Eastern Illinois (21-11, 10-2 OVC)
When: April 17-19 (Friday, 6 p.m. | Saturday, 4 p.m. | Sunday, 1 p.m.)
Where: Gary Hogan Field | Little Rock, Ark.
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: lrtrojans.com
SERIES HISTORY
• Little Rock leads the all-time series, 11-9.
COACH SPEAK
"This weekend should be a great series at home versus Eastern Illinois," Trojans head coach Chris Curry said. "It'll be a rematch of the OVC championship game and each of us have won the regular-season title the past two years. Eastern always has done a great job pitching and their staff is at the top of the conference this year. We're excited to get back home after a really tough nine-game, two-week road stretch and play at our best these next five conference weekends."
TROJAN TIDBITS
• Angel Cano broke out Tuesday night at Louisiana Tech with a pair of towering home runs, both traveling more than 400 feet. It marked his second multi-homer game of the season and gave him seven on the year. Cano is batting .318 with 15 RBI.
• Jerdy Lopez recorded two hits against the Bulldogs, marking his seventh multi-hit game of the season. He set a career high with three hits in a win at Western Illinois on April 4.
• Friday night starting pitcher Brannon Westmoreland ranks fifth in the OVC with a 3.38 ERA, continuing to anchor the Trojan pitching staff.
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS
• Eastern Illinois enters the weekend riding a six-game winning streak, highlighted by a 4-0 week that included a midweek win over Northern Illinois and a three-game sweep of Southern Indiana. The Panthers scored 36 runs across those four games and topped nine runs three times.
• Brett Stanley brings one of the nation's hottest bats into the series, carrying a 29-game hitting streak — the longest active streak in Division I. James Love has reached base safely in 32 consecutive games.
• The Panthers' pitching staff was dominant during last weekend's sweep, with Tyler Conklin setting the tone, Bryce Riggs tossing a complete game, and Dalton Boruff finishing the series with a scoreless outing.
• Stanley, Love and Chris Worcester lead the offensive production, while Worcester and Mike O'Conor provide power with a combined 15 home runs this season.• Eastern Illinois ranks among the national leaders in creating offensive pressure, including sacrifice bunts and triples per game. Riggs has also emerged among national leaders in several pitching categories, while Conklin and Stanley rank among the leaders in wins and triples, respectively.
