LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team will begin a five-game homestand by welcoming Eastern Illinois for a midweek contest at 2 p.m. (ET) Tuesday.

Although they're nonconference foes, Bellarmine (7-13) and Eastern Illinois (10-4) have gotten well-acquainted in the Knights' three-year Division-I era. BU and the Panthers will be squaring off for the third straight season, with EIU holding a 3-1 series lead.

Eastern Illinois was picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason coaches' poll. The Panthers have won six straight contests and will be well-rested after the entirety of their three-game series last weekend at Illinois State was cancelled.

Cade Zalewski (six homers), Cole Gober (five) and Ryan Ignoffo (four) have combined for 15 of EIU's 18 home runs. That trio along with Lincoln Riley have 14 RBI or more apiece. Ignoffo, a utility, and shortstop Chris Worcester (.344 batting average) were Preseason All-OVC. Ignoffo was first-team All-OVC last season while Worcester was the league's Freshman of the Year.

Ky Hampton is EIU's probable starter. In four appearances, all starts, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched.

This is only Bellarmine's second home game of 2023, but it does mark the first of five straight at Knights Field. BU is coming off a strong ASUN Conference debut, as the Knights captured last weekend's series at Eastern Kentucky after winning two of three.

Casey Sorg is carrying a 15-game hitting streak and a 19-game reached base streak. The sophomore outfielder hit .500 (5-for-10) with a homer, three RBI, three runs scored and three walks in the EKU series. Sorg, who also pitches, is the probable starter for the EIU contest and struck out the side in his lone inning against Evansville in the most recent midweek game.

Davis Crane hit .600 (6-for-10) in the EKU series. The junior first baseman went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the second game. Crane has drawn 13 walks in 15 games.

Reed Blaszczyk homered in the first two games of the EKU series and has a team-high five on the season. In his first season at Bellarmine, the junior outfielder is also leading the Knights in runs scored with 14 and tied for first in doubles with five.

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