RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team defeated Tennessee Tech Saturday, 6-1, behind the stellar performance of starting pitcher Christian Friedrich. Friedrich kept the Tennessee Tech lineup off balance all day, going seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out 11. With the win, the Colonels improve to 12-11-1 (5-2 OVC), while the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech fall to 20-8-1 (4-3 OVC).

“It was a total team effort today,” head coach Elvis Dominguez said. “We did the little things – advanced runners, played fundamental baseball. And then Christian did the rest. He put us on his back, and set the tone for the rest of the game.”

EKU’s lead was only 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth before junior Matt Davis broke the game open with a two-out double to left scoring juniors Tyler Rehmel and Dylan McMaine. The next batter, freshman Jayson Langfels, ripped a single over the shortstop’s head that plated Davis and pushed the Colonel advantage to 6-1.

Friedrich and reliever Chris Hord would do the rest. Hord spelled Friedrich in the eighth and pitched two innings of two hit, no run baseball. He also struck out two batters.

Tech starter Jake Edwards (3-2) picked up the loss for the Golden Eagles, going four and two thirds innings and allowing six runs on five hits.

Davis led the Colonels offensively. The junior scored three runs and drove in two more. Langfels went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow at noon for the final two games of this weekend’s series. Both games tomorrow will be seven-inning affairs.