PADUCAH, Ky. – Sophomore Christian Friedrich allowed just three hits in 7.0 innings and struck out 10 to lead the Eastern Kentucky baseball team to a 5-2 victory over the Murray State Thoroughbreds in an elimination game at the 2007 O'Reilly OVC Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Brooks Stadium. The Colonels will take on Samford on Friday in another elimination game. First pitch is noon EST.

The Colonels (24-28-1) once again jumped to an early lead with a run in the first. Junior Tyler Barnett singled to lead off, stole second and then moved to third on a groundout from junior Lucas Waters. Senior Tony Wells then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to get Barnett home with the game's first run.

Eastern got another run in the second, loading the bases with one out for sophomore Aaron Barrows who grounded one to third, the Thoroughbreds got the force at second but Barrows beat out the throw to first to allowed senior Shawn Flora to score.

The Colonels pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third when Waters led off the inning with his sixth home run of the season. Sophomore Dylan McMaine launched his team-best seventh home run with one out in the fourth, a towering solo shot over the right field fence.

Friedrich (5-4) was sharp early, recording five of his first six outs via the strike out. The 10 strike outs for Friedrich marked the fourth time this season he has struck out 10 or more batters. Murray State finally got to Friedrich in the fifth for two unearned runs.

The 'Breds put runners on first and second with one out on a hit by pitch and a walk and James Akin then grounded one under the glove of Waters at third, which was scored an error, allowing a run to score. Tyler Pittman then blooped an RBI single to right for Murray's first hit of the game, cutting the Eastern lead to 4-2.

The Colonels added an insurance run in the seventh as Barrows sliced a doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a Barnett sacrifice bunt and then came home on a long sacrifice fly to center from Waters.

Junior McKenzie Willoughby pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his team-best fifth save. Murray Anthony Stacy took the loss despite pitching a complete game. The southpaw allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking one.