FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball hill host its MIAA and home opener Friday as the Lions welcome Emporia State to Crowder Field for a three-game series.

The series runs Friday through Sunday with a first pitch of 1 p.m. all three days. All three games will be streamed on the MIAA Network and broadcast on Fox Sports Radio 103.5. Live stats will be available at uafortsmithlions.com.

NOTES:

LAST WEEK: The Lions earned their first win of the season at William Jewell but dropped the final two games of the series.

STOLEN GOODS: UAFS is 18-for-18 on steals this season. Outfielder Connor Earleywine leads the Lions with seven steals.

.400: Outfielders Wyatt Pierce and CJ Snowden are each hitting .400 through the first two weeks of the season, ranking in the top 20 of the MIAA.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Aden Almeida is eighth in the MIAA with a 1.74 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched.

HOME OPENER: UAFS is 10-5 in home openers of the NCAA II era.

SCOUTING ESU: The Hornets are 9-1 and hitting .323 on the season. Outfielder Evan Abbott is batting .347 while leading the Hornets with three homers and 21 runs batted in. Starter Colby Deaver has yet to allow a run in three starts over 18.0 innings with 26 strikeouts.

THE SERIES: UAFS is 1-2 all-time against Emporia State. This will be the first time the Hornets visit Fort Smith.