COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team dropped its first OVC game of the season, but earned a split in the doubleheader Saturday at Tennessee Tech thanks to a 6-5 victory in game one. The host Golden Eagles won game two of the twin bill, 8-2. The Colonels stand at 13-10-1 overall and 4-1 in the OVC while TTU is 15-10 and 2-3.

The Colonels came up with clutch two-out hits in the first game, scoring four of their six runs with two outs including the winning run in the top of the ninth. Eastern led 5-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth only to see Tech rally to even the score. TTU's Thomas Nelson keyed the three-run eighth with a two-run double.

In the ninth, Tennessee Tech retired the first two batters before junior Tyler Barnett sliced a single to left center. Sophomore Aaron Barrows followed with his only hit of the game, a double to the left center gap to score Barnett with the go-ahead run.

Sophomore Christian Friedrich went 7.0 innings but did not earn a decision. The southpaw gave up four runs on four hits while striking out 11 Golden Eagles. Sophomore Eric Hash (2-1) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to tally the win. Meanwhile, three Colonels finished with two hits apiece including sophomore Matt Davis. The second baseman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

In game two, Tech's Nelson and Brian Sprowl each hit a home run as the Golden Eagles cruised to the 8-2 win. Tennessee Tech starting pitcher Matt Smith (3-0) went 6.0 innings and allowed just one EKU earned run. The Golden Eagles broke open the game with four runs in the fourth to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Eastern's McKenzie Willoughby (2-3) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in 4.0 innings of work.

The two teams will complete the three-game set tomorrow, April 1, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m.