BRADENTON, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to the Akron University Zips Thursday, 10-4. Back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth from juniors Dylan McMaine and Tyler Rehmel weren’t enough, as the Zips scored four in their half of the seventh to distance themselves from the Colonels. With the loss, the Colonels drop to 6-6-1, while the Zips improve to 8-5.

A two-run single to left center off the bat of junior Matt Davis in the bottom of the first put the Colonels up early, 2-0. However, the Zips tied it up in their half of the fourth with two runs, and then took the lead in the fifth on a solo home run by Doug McNulty.

EKU answered in its half of the fifth with back-to-back solo homeruns from McMaine andRehmel, putting the Colonels up 4-3.

However, an RBI single in the sixth, and a four-run seventh put the Zips up for good.

Freshman Michael Martinez started on the mound for the Colonels, going 4.2 innings and giving up three runs (2 of them earned) on five hits. Junior Eric Hash arrived in the fifth, and pitched an inning and a third, allowing 4 runs on seven hits to get the loss. Sophomore Jim Clancy gave up a run in the seventh, and freshman Matt Fyffe gave up two in the eighth before freshman Paul Duncan closed things down in the ninth for the Colonels without giving up a hit or a run.

At the plate, the Colonels were led by McMaine and Rehmel’s long balls. Davis went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and sophomore Anthony Ottrano also went 2-for-4.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow, March 14, when they play the University of Illinois. Preseason All-American Christian Friedrich is scheduled to take the mound against the Fighting Illini. First Pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.