MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday with Morehead State, losing the first game 3-2 in extra innings, and bouncing back for a 6-2 win in the second. The Colonels’ record now stands at 10-10-1 (3-2 OVC), while the Eagles are 7-15 (1-4 OVC).

In the first game, Christian Friedrich went seven innings and allowed just two runs on two hits. The junior lefty suffered through early control problems, allowing the two runs on four walks in the first inning; however, he bounced back, holding the Eagles scoreless in the next six innings while striking out 13. In doing so, Friedrich became the school’s all-time career strikeout leader with 273.

In the top of the seventh, freshman Ryan Faidley tied the score with a two-run double into the gap in left center.

The bottom of the eighth saw the Eagles threaten, loading the bases with no outs. Senior McKenzie Willoughby, however, got the next man to ground into a force out at home, and the following man to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

In the top of the ninth, the Colonels also loaded the bases with no outs and came away with nothing. Faidley popped up to left, junior Aaron Barrows popped up to the catcher, and senior Tyler Barnett struck out to end the threat.

Finally, in the bottom of the 11th, Morehead’s Travis Redmon ripped a two-out single up the middle to drive in Andrew Wertz for the winning run.

Faidley led the Colonels offensively in game one, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Willoughby (0-2) got the loss for EKU, while Jake Helvey (2-1) picked up the win for Morehead.

The second game was a seven inning affair in which Colby Brown (2-1) pitched six to get the win. Brown allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out three. Sophomore Jim Clancy came on in the seventh and did not allow a run.

The Colonel offense attacked early in the second game, as junior Tyler Rehmel got things going in the first inning with a two run double to right.

The Colonels added to their lead in the second when an RBI single by Faidley and a sacrifice fly by Barrows made it 4-0.

The Eagles would score two in their half of the second; however, insurance runs in the fifth and sixth sealed it for the Colonels.


The Colonels were led at the plate in the second game by Barrows, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and freshman Jayson Langfels, who also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Michael Bottoms (2-2) got the loss for the Eagles.

The baseball Colonels return to action tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. when they take on Morehead State in the deciding game of this weekend’s three game series.