RICHMOND, Ky. – After convincingly winning the opening game of this weekend’s series, the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team dropped a pair of games to Tennessee Tech on Sunday, losing the first game 7-4 and the second game 7-6 in extra innings. With the losses, the Colonels drop to 12-13-1 (5-4 OVC), while the Golden Eagles improve to 22-8-1 (6-3 OVC).
“We needed to come out today, set the tone early and follow up from yesterday’s win, but we didn’t get very good starting pitching,” head coach Elvis Dominguez said. “We got behind in counts, and you can’t do that against good hitting teams like Tennessee Tech. They took advantage, grabbed the momentum and held it all day.”
Sophomore Colby Brown started the first game for the Colonels, and struggled from the get-go, allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning.
The Colonels got one of those runs back in their half of the first off an RBI single to right by junior Dylan McMaine; however, Brown’s struggles continued. He allowed one run in the third, and two more in the fourth, putting the Colonel offense into a 6-1 hole.
The Colonels threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Anthony Ottrando led off the inning with a single, and after McMaine lined out to right field, junior Tyler Rehmel singled as well. The next man up, junior Matt Davis, drew a walk to load the bases with just one out; however, freshman Jayson Langfels and senior Joe Oliver struck out consecutively to end the threat and the inning.
Senior Tyler Barnett smacked a three run home run to right field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Colonels within three; however, that was as close as they’d come as Ottrando popped up to second base to end the game.
Brown (2-2) got the loss for the Colonels, going four innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits. Freshman Patrick Cooper pitched the remaining three innings and allowed just one run on two hits.
Starter Michael Alcorn (4-1) pitched the entire game for the Golden Eagles and got the win, allowing four runs (only one of them earned) on eight hits.
At the plate, the Colonels were led by Barnett, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. McMaine also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In game two, the Colonels fell into an early hold similar to the previous game. Starter Chris Grider allowed three runs on four hits in the first inning, and then two more in the second inning before being replaced by freshman Michael Martinez.
Facing a 5-1 deficit after just the second inning, and helped along by four scoreless innings from Martinez, the Colonels started to battle back. They got two back in the fourth off an RBI double to left center by Rehmel and an RBI double to right center by Langfels. Then, they tied it up in the fifth when Rehmel belted a single through the left side of the infield scoring Barnett and McMaine.
Neither team would score again until the eighth when Alex Henry ripped a two-out triple to left center off Colonel reliever Jim Clancy, scoring two and giving the Golden Eagles a 7-5 adavantage.
In the bottom of the eighth, Davis powered a one-out triple down the right field line, and then Langfels walked to put men on the corner with one away. The next man, Oliver, then singled to left field, scoring Davis and putting Langfels at second. After freshman Ryan Faidley went down on strikes, senior Clint Seymour pinch hit for Aaron Barrows, and drew a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Barnett ripped a ball up the middle; however, Tech shortstop Thomas Nelson made a terrific diving play, flipped it to second for the force, and the game was over.
Grider went just one inning and allowed five runs on five hits. Martinez pitched four innings without allowing a hit or a run. Senior McKenzie Willoughby pitched the sixth inning also without allowing a hit or a run. Clancy (0-1) picked up the loss for the Colonels, going two innings and allowing two runs on three hits.
Reliever A.J. Kirby-Jones (1-1) received the win for Tennessee Tech.
The Colonels were led at the plate by Rehmel, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Oliver also hit well in game two, going 3-for-4 a run driven in.
The Colonels return to action this Wednesday, April 9, when they travel to Bowling Green to take on Western Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
