Eastern Illinois (5-8, 0-0 OVC) at Western Carolina (7-10, 0-0 SoCon)
March 14-16 | Cullowhee, N.C. | Hennon Stadium
 
Game 1: Friday at 1 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Game 2: Friday at 4 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Game 3: TBA | Live Stats
 
LEADING OFF: The Eastern Illinois baseball team heads to the Blue Ridge Mountains this weekend to take on Western Carolina in Cullowhee. The three-game series is set to get underway on Friday at 4 p.m. ET.

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first ever meeting between the Panthers and Catamounts.

WESTERN CAROLINA:

• WCU enters this weekend with an overall record of 7-10 after dropping a midweek contest against Gardner-Webb 11-4 on Tuesday.
• The Catamounts have a team batting average of .332, which is ranked 13th nationally. They are 10th nationally in runs scored with a total of 167. Their 42 doubles are eighth most in the country.
• Western's pitchers have a combined ERA of 10.33 and have surrendered double-digit runs in nine of their games this season.
• WCU is led by third-year head coach Alan Beck. He has a record of 56-69 with the Catamounts.

LAST TIME OUT: Some red-hot bats led Eastern Illinois to a 15-8 win over Bellarmine in Louisville on Tuesday afternoon.

The EIU offense recorded season-highs in runs scored and hits with 13 total knocks in the contest.

Zak Goodwin had a big day at the plate, going 4-5 with four runs scored including a homer, a double, and four RBIs.

Tyler Castro and Jake Ferguson were also key contributors to the Panthers' offensive onslaught, with Castro going 2-3 with a double and four RBIs, while Ferguson went a perfect 3-3 with a trio of RBIs.

It was a collective effort on the mound with seven EIU pitchers making appearances in the game. Eli Cartwright was awarded the win after giving up zero earned runs through an inning of relief work.

AT THE PLATE: The Panthers are batting .229 as a team with 75 runs scored on 103 hits. They have five homers and 17 doubles on the season.

Of players with at least 10 appearances, Pierce Bauerle leads the way with a batting average of .359. He also leads the team in hits with 14.

Bauerle is tied with Chris Worcester for most multi-hit games with five.

Zak Goodwin leads the team in RBIs with nine. He has reached base in a team-high seven consecutive games.

ON THE MOUND: EIU pitchers have a combined ERA of 5.54. The Panthers have surrendered 69 earned runs on 126 hits with 91 strikeouts.

Tyler Conklin leads the squad in strikeouts with 22 K's through a team-high 24.2 innings pitched. He holds a 2-1 record with a 4.74 ERA.

Dalton Boruff has two saves with 16 strikeouts through 15.2 innings pitched.

Bryce Riggs has allowed zero earned runs in five appearances totaling 12.1 innings.

CATEGORY LEADERS:
Hits – Pierce Bauerle (14), Chris Worcester (13), Peyton Wilson (12),
RBI – Zak Goodwin (9), Brett Stanley (8), Pierce Bauerle/Chris Worcester (7)
Strikeouts – Tyler Conklin (22), Dalton Boruff (16), Tyler Kapraun (11)

ON DECK: The Panthers travel to Arkansas Pine Bluff for a pair of midweek matchups on March 18th and 19th before returning to Charleston for their home and OVC opener against Lindenwood on Friday, March 21st at 3 p.m.