RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior Charlie Yarbrough went 3-for-4 and drove in two Colonels, but it was not enough as Toledo used a four-run fourth to edge the Eastern Kentucky baseball team in the opener for both squads.

The Colonels (0-1) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first after junior Tyler Nix walked, moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt and then came around to score on a Yarbrough double.

Senior Nick Barte cruised through the first three innings for Eastern allowing only two base runners before running into trouble in the fourth, allowing the first three hitters to reach base.

Toledo (1-0) cleanup hitter Scott Boley then doubled to left field to drive in two and give the Rockets the lead. After Joel Visser struck out, Dan Stong drove a sacrifice fly to deep left to bring in another Toledo run. Jake Oester followed with a single to drive Barte from the game and give the Rockets a 4-1 lead.

Eastern used single runs in the sixth and seventh to draw within one. Freshman Matt Davis drove in a run on a one-out bases-loaded infield hit in the sixth. Then in the seventh Yarbrough drove in his second run of the game, chasing in senior Brett Bolger who had doubled to left with one away.

Freshman Eric Hash, who relieved Barte in the fourth, combined with freshmen Chris Friedrich, freshman David Owens and sophomore Blake Anderson to hold the Rockets scoreless after the four-run fourth and give the Colonels a chance in the ninth.

Junior Tony Wells, who pinch-hit earlier in the game, got Eastern started in the ninth with a one-out walk and advanced to third on a Yarbrough single. Senior Chris O'Dell struck out for the second out, but sophomore Aaron Landis walked to load the bases for senior Keith Bolger. Bolger worked the count to 3-1 off Toledo closer Joe Roberts, but flied out to right to end the game.

Barte (0-1) took the loss for the Colonels while Toledo starter Joe Welsh (1-0) pitched six innings to earn the victory.

The teams will meet again tomorrow at Turkey Hughes Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.