JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Jacksonville State twice on Saturday, losing the first game 3-2 in 10 innings and and the second game 7-5. With the wins, the Gamecocks (22-18, 13-4 OVC) increase their lead in the OVC, while the Colonels (20-20-1, 8-9 OVC) fall below .500 in the conference for the first time all season.
Game one saw the Gamecocks take an early 1-0 lead when second baseman Bert Smith scored on a Christian Friedrich wild pitch in the bottom of the first. The Colonels, however, responded in the top of the second when junior Tyler Rehmel scored on a throwing error by JSU shortstop Josh Sanders.
Tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, center fielder pushed the Gamecocks ahead with an RBI single up the middle, plating Steven Leach.
Trailing 2-1 and down to their final out in the top of the ninth, the Colonels rallied. In that inning, Junior Matt Davis poked a single into right on an 0-2 count, and then was running when freshman Jayson Langfels blooped a single between the second baseman and the right fielder. Davis scored on the play and the game went into extra innings.
In the bottom of the tenth, however, JSU pinch hitter Josh Hoyle scored on a fielder’s choice from catcher Spence Brandes to end the game.
Friedrich (4-1) went seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits for the no decision. He also struck out six batters. Sophomore Chris Hord (0-2) pitched two and a third innings for the loss, giving up one run on just two hits.
Brian Booth (4-0) got the win for the Gamecocks, going four innings and allowing just one run on five hits.
The Colonels were led at the plate by Davis, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
After a minor rain delay, game two got underway and saw the Gamecocks jump out to an early 4-0 lead.
The Colonels, however, responded in their half of the third with five runs, all coming with two outs. Freshman Ryan Faidley led off the inning with a pop out, and was followed by a fly out from junior Aaron Barrows before sophomore Anthony Ottrando got things going with a double to right center. Junior Dylan McMaine followed that with a double of his own, scoring Ottrando. Rehmel then singled in McMaine to make the score 4-2. The next batter, Davis, walked, and freshman Jayson Langfels was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. After Rehmel scored on a passed ball, senior Joe Oliver ripped a double to right center, scoring both Davis and Langfels and giving the Colonels a 5-4 lead.
After the Gamecocks tacked on a run in the bottom of the third, the game remained tied at 5-5 until the bottom of the sixth when JSU designated hitter Brian Piazza laced a two run single to left field that put the Gamecocks up for good.
Senior Mckenzie Willoughby went five innings and allowed five runs (only two of them earned) on seven hits, while striking out six. Freshman Patrick Cooper (1-4) received the loss for the Colonels, pitching just one inning and allowing two runs on two hits.
Ben Tootle (7-2) got the win, going six innings and allowing five runs on six hits.
Offensively, the Colonels were led by Oliver, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI, and Ottrando, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Colonels return to action tomorrow when they face the Gamecocks in the final game of this weekend’s series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
