Paducah, Ky. - Top-seeded Jacksonville State (33-23) rode a stellar outing from freshman Donovan Hand (10-3) to an 8-2 win over Eastern Kentucky (24-30) on the second day of the 2005 O'Reilly Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Tournament. The Colonels return to action tomorrow morning when they will look to stay alive against No. 3 Morehead State at noon (EST).
The Gamecocks gave Hand a 3-0 lead in the first inning, which was more than enough for the OVC Freshman of the Year, who scattered six hits and allowed one run over 7.0 frames.
"The difference today was on the mound where their starter dominated," said EKU head coach Elvis Domiguez. "[Jacksonville State] got a great performance from Donovan Hand and Shane (Zegarac) struggled early on. They put up a three spot in the first inning and we were behind the eight ball from then on. We battled back a bit but they made some key defensive plays and stops in crucial situations, but all the credit goes to the guy they had on the mound."
Eastern struggled to put runners on against Hand. Even when the Colonels managed to reach base, JSU found a way to eliminate the threat. The Gamecocks picked off two runners, caught one stealing and turned a double play to help thwart EKU's scoring chances.
JSU jumped all over freshman Shane Zegarac (3-7) in the first inning, plating three runs off three hits and a pair of walks. The Gamecocks loaded the bases with one out and got on the board courtesy of a RBI single by Brian Haskins. Brian Piazza pushed across the team's second run with a RBI groundout before Richard Turner capped off the rally with a run-scoring single to center.
Eastern went quietly over the first two innings, but broke into the scoring column in the third after junior Keith Bolger opened the frame with a leadoff double (his second of the year). Bolger moved up on a groundout, then came around to score off a sacrifice fly by senior Derrick Bussell.
The Gamecocks extended their advantage to four runs, 5-1, in the bottom of the third thanks to a sacrifice fly by Piazza and a RBI groundout by Jason Horn. Zegarac left the game after Piazza's sacrifice fly. The freshman lefty lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing six hits and four walks, with each of the first five runs to his credit.
Senior Brian Engle took the mound for Zegarac in the third, and went on to hold JSU scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. His luck wasn't as good in the sixth, as the Gamecocks tacked on three more runs, capped off by a two-run double by Jake Ball, to take an 8-1 lead. Engle worked 3.2 innings with four hits and three runs allowed in relief of Zegarac.
The Colonels plated a run in the top of the ninth, when senior Adam Visnic, who went 2-for-4 in the loss, drove in senior Will Whisenant with a base knock. Eastern was unable to get any closer, however, and will now have to work its way into the title game through the loser's bracket.
Visnic and senior Bryan Stevenson led the team with two hits a piece. Senior Eric Anthrop went the final 2.0 innings for Eastern, allowing just one hit to the Gamecocks. Stevenson picked up his 10th double and recorded his 30th stolen base in the losing effort.
Eastern will be facing Morehead State for the fifth time in seven days on Friday. EKU has won three of the four meetings between the two teams so far this season, including a 6-4 victory in the first round of the OVC Tournament.
If the Colonels defeat the Eagles on Friday, they will advance to take on No. 4 Murray State at 3:30 p.m. (EST). A loss will eliminate EKU from the OVC Tournament.
