RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team defeated Austin Peay in its opening conference game of the season Friday, 2-1, behind the arm of junior left-hander Christian Friedrich. Friedrich (2-1) kept the Governors off balance all day, going six innings and allowing just one run on three hits for the win. In the second game of the day, the Governors rallied from five down in the top of the seventh, forced extra innings, and eventually prevailed 7-5. At the end of the day, the Colonels’ record stands at 8-8-1 (1-1 OVC) while the Governors are 9-8 (1-1 OVC).
“We played good baseball all day, except one inning,” head coach Elvis Dominguez said. “We took an inning off, and it cost us.”
In the first game, freshman Jayson Langfels provided half of the Colonel offense in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left center, his first as Colonel.
The Colonels would tack on another run in the bottom of the second when junior Tyler Rehmel doubled to lead off the inning and was later driven home on an RBI single by freshman Ryan Faidley.
The Governors would get one back in the fourth on an RBI single by Greg Bachman, but that would be all.
Sophomore Jim Clancy came on in relief of Friedrich, and pitched two scoreless innings. He gave way to senior McKenzie Willoughby in the ninth who closed it down for his third save of the season.
Offensively, the Colonels were led by Langfels’ home run and Faidley’s RBI single. Senior Joe Oliver also had a nice day at the plate, going 2-for-3.
In the second game, the Colonels got on the board in the bottom of the first when junior Dylan McMaine drilled a two-run homer to right center, his second of the season.
They would add one more in the third off an RBI single by Langfels, and then two more in the fifth courtesy of a leadoff triple by junior Aaron Barrows, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly by Rehmel.
With a seemingly comfortable 5-0 lead heading into the final inning, reliever Chris Hord put two men on before allowing a three-run blast to Josh Kemph. Willougby replaced Hord, but promptly allowed a two-run shot to right center off the bat of Matt Kole, sending the game into extra innings.
Junior Eric Hash (0-2) got the loss after giving up two runs to the Governors in the top of the ninth.
At the plate, the Colonels were led by Langfels (2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored), Rehmel (2-for-5 with an RBI) and Barrows (2-for-3 with a run scored).
The Colonels return to action tomorrow, March 22, when they take on Austin Peay in the final game of this weekend’s three game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
