BRADENTON, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell Friday to the University of Illinois, 8-6, despite a strong outing from preseason All-American Christian Friedrich. Friedrich took a no-hitter into the seventh, and allowed just one run on two hits in that inning; however, the Colonel bullpen and fielding imploded in the eighth, allowing seven runs to cross the plate. With the loss, the Colonels fall below .500 to 6-7-1, while the Fighting Illini improve to 3-4.

The Colonels led 2-0 before Friedrich allowed his first hit of the game in the top of the seventh, a single off the bat of Illini designated hitter Daniel Webb. Friedrich would allow a run, and then find himself in a two-outs, bases-loaded jam before striking out Illini center fielder Kyle Hudson with a curveball to end the threat and the inning.

Two consecutive bunt singles by sophomore Anthony Ottrando and junior Matt Davis led off the bottom of the seventh for the Colonels. An RBI groundout by freshman Ryan Faidley would score Ottrando, and an infield single off the bat of junior Aaron Barrows would bring home Davis, giving the Colonels a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the eighth.

Sophomore Chris Hord started the eighth for the Colonels and allowed one run before yielding a one-out bases loaded jam to senior McKenzie Willougby. Willoughby got the first man he faced to ground to second, but shortstop Tyler Barnett missed the flip from second baseman Davis, spoiling the potential double play, allowing the runner on third to score, and prolonging the inning. The Illini would add five more runs before the inning finally came to a close. In all, five of the seven runs scored by the Illini in the eighth were unearned.

Friedrich went seven innings, allowing only one run on two hits. He also struck out 12 batters, his highest total of the season. Hord went just a third of an inning and allowed four runs (two of them unearned) on three hits. Willoughby went two thirds of an inning, giving up three runs (none of them earned) on two hits. Freshman Paul Duncan pitched the ninth for the second consecutive day without allowing a hit or a run.

At the plate, the Colonels were led by Ottrando, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior Dylan McMaine went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while Barrows went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow against the University of Maryland Baltimore County. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.