RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior Clint Seymour's go-ahead two-run single highlighted an eight-run sixth as the Eastern Kentucky baseball team defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 10-5 Sunday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field on the final day of the EKU Early Bird Tournament. Earlier in the day sophomore Dylan McMaine went 2-for-3 including a home run to lead EKU to a 7-4 victory over Long Island.
Wells led off the sixth against the Golden Grizzlies (3-1) with an infield single and then stole second after junior Joe Oliver flied to right. Sophomore Matt Davis then drilled a single through the left side to drive home Wells and tie the score at two. McMaine then doubled to right to put runners on second and third to bring up Seymour who singled through the right side to give the Colonels (3-1) a 4-2 lead.
Eastern then loaded the bases for junior Tyler Barnett who walked to force in a run, bringing up Flora who tripled to the right-center field gap to clear the bases and give EKU an 8-2 lead. The Colonels tallied eight hits in the inning, sending 12 men to the plate.
Oakland took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third on a Kevin Carkeek home run and an RBI single from Kyle Crepeau. But senior Michael Mulholland, making his first career start at EKU, then retired 10 in a row before allowing a bunt single with two outs in the sixth. The southpaw allowed just four hits in 6.2 innings, striking out seven, to pick up the victory.
Adam Johnson took the loss for the Golden Grizzlies, allowing six runs in 5.1 innings.
The Colonels got started early in the first game of the day against Long Island, picking up a run in the first as Flora singled with one out and then came home on single to left from Oliver. Eastern got another run in the third and then two more in the fourth on an RBI double from McMaine and an RBI single from Barnett.
Long Island closed to within 4-3 though with a run in the fifth on a Johnnie Neckar home run and two more in the sixth on a two-run bases loaded single from Neckar. The Blackbirds threatened for more as Anthony Amatucci reached on an infield single to put runners on first and second but EKU reliever Alex Napier got the next hitter, Robbie Rowen, to line into a double play to end the inning.
Eastern responded with a run the sixth on McMaine's first career home run and another in the seventh on an Oliver RBI single after LIU had cut the lead to 5-4. Sophomore Eric Hash pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and striking out three, to pick up his first career save. EKU sophomore starter Chris Grider, pitching for the first time in nearly two years, struck out six in 5.0 innings to pick up the victory.
Eastern returns to action on Wednesday, February 28 with a doubleheader against Kentucky State at Turkey Hughes Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
