Clarksville, Tenn. - The Eastern Kentucky baseball team saw its losing streak reach six games, as the Colonels dropped a doubleheader at Austin Peay on Saturday. EKU (20-27, 11-11 Ohio Valley Conference) held early leads in both contests, but was unable to contain APSU's offense, falling 9-2 and 6-2.
The Governors (35-16, 16-7 OVC) rode a complete game, six-strikeout effort from Rowdy Hardy to their 9-2 victory in game one. Hardy (10-4) allowed two runs (one earned) off eight hits and one walk en route to his 10th victory of the year. Eastern went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first when senior Bryan Stevenson plated junior Brett Bolger with a RBI single. Stevenson hit safely in both contests to bring his hit streak to 17 games.
Austin Peay answered in the bottom of the second with a five-run outburst off freshman Blake Anderson (4-3), fueled by a three-run triple from Brett Luther and a two-run homer by Cody Youngblood. Anderson went 3.0 innings for EKU, allowing five hits and six runs during his outing. Senior Brian Engle went the final 5.0 frames for EKU, surrendering three runs off five hits.
Eastern managed just one more run in the contest, courtesy of a RBI single from freshman Lucas Waters. EKU totaled eight hits in the loss, five of which came from Waters (three) and senior Adam Visnic (two).
Senior Will Whisenant gave the Colonels an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two by connecting on his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot off APSU starter Shawn Kelley. Eastern racked up four hits in the first inning, but would manage only three more off Kelley the rest of the game.
A three-run homer by Jacob Schroeder put the Govs ahead for good in the second inning, as Kelley's strong outing led the home team to a 6-2 victory. Kelley (7-2) went the full 7.0 innings for APSU, striking out nine batters without allowing a walk. EKU sophomore McKenzie Willoughby (6-3) suffered his first conference loss of the year, despite allowing just five hits over 6.0 innings (though he did issue six walks to the Govs).
The Colonels will try and rebound tomorrow afternoon when they close out their three-game series with the Governors. After that, Eastern heads to Cincinnati (May 17) before closing out the regular season at home against Morehead State (May 20-21).
