BRADENTON, Fla. - The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team dropped a hard-fought, 10-inning battle to the Illinois State Redbirds Tuesday, 3-2. A two out, two-strike bloop single in the bottom the of 10th sealed the Colonels' fate. With the loss, EKU drops to 6-5-1 (0-0 OVC) on the season.

With the Colonels trailing 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, junior Dylan McMaine led off the inning with a walk, and was advanced to second on a bunt by fellow junior Matt Davis. The next batter, junior Tyler Rehmel, reached on an infield single, advancing McMaine to third. Sophomore Anthony Ottrando then tied the game with a sacrifice fly that scored McMaine.

In the bottom of the tenth, a single, two walks and two wild pitches gave the Redbirds loaded bases with no outs. Senior McKenzie Willougby got the next man to ground into a force out at home, and then struck out the next man looking. The following Redbird, on a 2-2 count, blooped a single over third baseman Ottrando's head to end the game.

Freshman Patrick Cooper started the game for the Colonels, and turned in a solid performance. The Danville native went six innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. He also struck out four batters.

Sophomore Jim Clancy pitched the seventh, and turned in a dominating performance, allowing no runs on one hit and two strikouts. Willougby pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits.

At the plate, the Colonels were led by Rehmel, who went 3-for-4, and Ottrando, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Colonels play again on Thursday when they take on Akron. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.