PADUCAH, Ky. – Freshman Christian Friedrich pitched 7.0 innings, striking out nine and junior Charlie Yarbrough went 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Eastern Kentucky baseball team to a 6-3 victory over Austin Peay in the opening round of the 2006 O'Reilly OVC Tournament on Wednesday . The fourth-seeded Colonels, who improved to 28-24 with the victory, will face second-seeded Jacksonville State Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Friedrich, named the conference's top freshman on Tuesday, scattered seven hits over his 7.0 innings of work and allowed just two earned runs.

The Governors jumped on top with a run in the third. Jake Lane walked to begin the inning, stole second and then moved to third on a groundout to second by Cody Youngblood. Friedrich then got Matt Leddbetter to fly out to shallow right for the second out, keeping Lane at third. But Friedrich hit the next hitter, Ryan Kane, and Ryan Gilboy then reached on an infield single, allowing Lane to score and giving APSU a 1-0 lead.

The Colonels responded with two in the third as junior Shawn Flora singled with one out, and then moved to third on a single from senior Brett Bolger. Junior Yarbrough, named the 2006 OVC Player of the Year on Tuesday, singled to right field to tie the game at one. Governor starter Brad Daniel then walked junior Tony Wells to load the bases, bringing up senior Chris O'Dell. O'Dell grounded to third baseman James Ray who got the force at second but the relay throw to first was too late, allowing Bolger to come home to score and give Eastern a 2-1 lead.

APSU loaded the bases with two out in the fourth and then evened the score at two when Friedrich hit Leddbetter. Friedrich retired Kane on a line drive to left to escape further trouble.

EKU took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth. Bolger and Yarbrough singled to begin the inning and then moved to second and third respectively on a sacrifice bunt from Wells. The Governors then walked O'Dell intentionally to load the bases for freshman Matt Davis who was hit by a pitch to give Eastern a 3-2 lead. Ben Wilshire relieved Daniel and sophomore Joe Oliver greeted him with a two-run single to left-center to give EKU a 5-2 lead.

The Colonels tacked on a run in the sixth on a Yarbrough RBI double, driving in Bolger.

The Governors mounted a rally in the eighth, as their first two hitters reached against EKU reliever David Owens. Brett Luther then grounded one to shortstop Lucas Waters who stepped on second for the force out but then threw wild to first, allowing Jacob Schroeder to score and close the Eastern lead to 6-3.

Junior Michael Mullholland then relieved Owens and got Will Hogue to fly out for the second out and then struck out Rafael Hill to end the inning.

Mulholland returned to the mound for the ninth and pitched around a two-out hit to pick up his seventh save.