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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Sophomore Jayson Langfels crushed a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to propel the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team past Bucknell on Tuesday afternoon, 9-8. The win improves the Colonels’ record to 4-5 while Bucknell drops to 2-8.

With EKU leading 8-5 heading into the top of the ninth, freshman reliever Greg Terry loaded the bases with one out before giving up a two-run double down the left field line that brought the Bison to within one. Senior David Owens then came on and allowed a sacrifice fly to center that tied it before getting the next man to pop out and end the inning.

Langfels was the first batter of the bottom of the ninth and blasted the second pitch reliever Doug Shribman offered over the left field wall. It was Langfels’ first home run of the season.

Owens (1-0) picked up the win for EKU as he recorded the final two outs of the top of the ninth. Junior Jim Clancy started for the Colonels and pitched a solid 6.2 innings, allowing only two runs on seven hits. He also fanned four batters. Senior Alex Napier pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits. Terry allowed three runs on three hits in his innings of work.

Shribman (0-1) received the loss despite only throwing two pitches.

Langfels’ walk-off blast was the culmination of a monster day for the sophomore. He finished 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of RBI. Junior Anthony Ottrando batted 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI while freshman Richie Rodriguez contributed with three hits and a run scored.

Andrew Brouse paced the Bison with two hits, a run scored and three RBI. Ben Yoder also chipped in, going 3-for-5 with a run scored.

EKU scored a run in the bottom of the first when senior Matt Davis singled, advanced to third on a single by Langfels and scored on an RBI single to center from junior Joey Stevens.

After Bucknell got a run back in the top of the sixth, the Colonels responded with three runs in the home half of the inning to expand their lead to 4-1. Ottando led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After a single by senior Tyler Rehmel drove in Ottrando, Langfels advanced Rehmel to second with a base hit of his own. Stevens then delivered his second RBI single of the day, scoring Rehmel. Langfels would later score on a sacrifice fly to left from freshman Michael Garcia.

After the Bison made it 4-2 in the top of the seventh, EKU again responded in their half of the inning with two runs that stretched their lead to four. Rodriguez led off the inning with a double to left and was brought home on a single by Ottrando. Langfels then ripped a single into left center that scored Ottrando and made it 6-2.

The Bison, however, were far from done. An RBI single by Brouse highlighted a three-run eighth inning that pulled Bucknell to within one, 6-5.

Again, though, the Colonels distanced themselves in their half of the inning, this time due to the hitting of freshmen. With one out in the inning, Garcia doubled to left and then came home on an RBI single from freshman pinch-hitter Jacob Daniel. Daniel then scored on a base hit by Rodriguez to give EKU an 8-5 lead and set the stage for the ninth inning dramatics.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow, March 11, when they play Vermont at 12:00 p.m.