BRADENTON, Fla. - Sophomore Dylan McMaine drove in sophomore Matt Davis with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and senior Tony Wells went 3-for-5 with two RBI as the Eastern Kentucky baseball team snapped a two-game slide with a 5-4 victory over the Bucknell Bison at IMG Field on Monday afternoon. With the setback, the Bison fall to 3-6, while the Colonels improve to 7-6 on the year.

Davis led off the inning with a single and then moved to third on a Bison error, bringing up McMaine who reached on infield single to drive in Davis and give the Colonels a 5-4 lead.

The Bison loaded the bases with two out in the ninth, but sophomore Eric Hash got Ryan Gryskevicz to strike out to end the game.

Bucknell took a 1-0 lead in the first after junior Ed Rubbo singled and scored on an RBI double by classmate Jason Buursma.

The Bison then brought the score to 2-0 in the second inning as junior Mark Angelo led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Dustin Kapson and a single up the middle by junior Shawn Hirsch plated him.

EKU cut its deficit in half in the top of the third. Junior Tyler Barnett singled and later came home on a sacrifice fly by junior Lucas Waters. Barnett went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on the day.

Bucknell struck back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to increase its advantage to 4-1. Angelo reached on an error and scored on a double-steal play and with two out, sophomore Bret Sokirka brought in Hirsch, who reached base with his second single of the day.

However, the Colonels kept pace with the Bison by scoring twice in their next turn at bat. Sophomore Aaron Barrows reached on a fielder's choice and came in on an RBI single by Waters for the first run of the inning. Wells then drove in senior Shawn Flora, who had singed with two outs in the frame.

Then in the top of the seventh, Eastern Kentucky leveled the score at four. Barnett led off the inning with an infield hit and with two away, Wells plated him with a single to center.

Senior Nathan Mittag started on the mound for the Bison but did not record the decision in the contest. In 6.1 innings of work, he allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Buursma relieved him and took the loss (1-1) as he threw 2.2 innings and surrendered one unearned run on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Reliever Jim Clancy was credited with the win (1-0) for EKU after working 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Hash pitched 0.2 innings to pick up his third save.

Eastern returns to action tomorrow against Northern Iowa. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.