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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team scored seven runs in the fourth inning to surge past the Miami University RedHawks, 9-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field. With the win, EKU improves to 15-8 (4-2 OVC) on the season while the RedHawks fall to 12-11 (3-3 MAC).

With the game tied 1-1, the Colonels rallied for seven runs in the fourth inning, and they would end up needing almost all of them. Their commanding lead was cut to three when Miami plated four runs in the seventh; however, sophomore Macon Smith blanked the Redhawks in the final two innings to seal the win.

Sophomore Matt Fyffe (2-1) delivered a strong start for EKU, earning the win while going 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. The right-hander also struck out eight batters. Smith worked 2.2 innings and only surrendered one run on three hits.

Lance Kingrey (0-1) received the loss for Miami, pitching three innings and allowing three runs on four hits.

Senior Aaron Barrows, senior Tyler Rehmel and freshman Jacob Daniel all went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI to lead a balanced Colonel offensive attack. Junior Joey Stevens led EKU with three RBI.

Adam Eaton paced Miami, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.

EKU got on the board first when Rehmel plated fellow senior Matt Davis with a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the third.

The RedHawks got that run back in the top of the fourth, however, when Jon Edgington was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Chris Nadeau. Fyffe got the next batter, Ben Eubank, to strike out swinging to end the threat.

In the home half of that inning, the Colonels surged past the Redhawks. Junior Anthony Ottrando began the inning by reaching second on an error by Nadeau. After Daniel singled to right, Stevens ripped a double down the left field line that scored both base runners. Freshman Richie Rodriguez then blasted a double into left center that plated Stevens. With two outs in the inning and Rodriguez on third, Barrows legged out an RBI single to short and then Rehmel singled to center, advancing Barrows to second. Barrows came home on a single to center by sophomore Jayson Langfels and Rehmel scored on a passed ball. Finally, Daniel drove home Langfels with a single to center that ended the scoring for EKU.

After Miami got one run back in the top of the sixth, Stevens walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to again put the Colonels up by seven, 9-2.

A home run by Tommy Nurre highlighted a four-run seventh for Miami that pulled the RedHawks to within three, before Smith slammed the door on the visitors in the final two innings.

The Colonels and the RedHawks will meet again on April 29 when the Colonels travel to Oxford to complete the home and home.

EKU returns to action tomorrow, April 1, when they host Kentucky State in a doubleheader at Turkey Hughes Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.