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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team scored five runs in the top of the ninth to take an 8-7 lead against no. 29 Kentucky on Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium; however, a two-out, two run walk-off blast by sophomore Chris Bisson in the bottom of the ninth won it for the Wildcats.

It would have been the second win over a ranked opponent in as many days for EKU.

Trailing 7-3 heading into the top of the ninth, EKU got a lead-off single from freshman #A.J. Jamison to begin the rally. After sophomore Ryan Faidley# walked, freshman Richie Rodriguez delivered an RBI double down the right field line, scoring pinch-runner Dustin Dunlop and advancing Faidley to third.

After senior Matt Davis went down on strikes, senior Aaron Barrows ripped a two-run triple into the gap in right center to pull the Colonels to within one, 7-6. Senior Tyler Rehmel then struck out for the second out of the inning. Representing the Colonels’ last hope, sophomore Jayson Langfels grounded to Kentucky shortstop Chris Wade. Wade’s throw to first was low, however, and got past the first baseman. Barrows raced home for the tying run and Langfels advanced to second.

Following a walk by junior Anthony Ottrando, junior Joey Stevens laced a single through the left side of the infield to score Langfels and give EKU an 8-7 lead.

Junior right-hander Chris Hord (0-1) retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth before junior Marcus Nidiffer delivered a two-strike single into left field to keep the inning alive. The next batter, Bisson, blasted the first pitch he saw over the wall in right-center to end the game in dramatic fashion. It was Bisson’s first career home run.

Hord went 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits. Sophomore Matt Fyffe started on the mound for EKU and worked 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. Freshman Greg Terry and sophomore Macon Smith combined for 2.1 innings of relief and allowed one run between the both of them.

Braden Kapteyn (1-0) picked up the win for Kentucky, pitching the final 1.2 innings and allowing five runs on four hits.

Offensively, the Colonels were led by Stevens, who finished the day 3-for-6 with two RBI. Davis, meanwhile, went 3-for-6 with a run scored.

Kentucky was paced by Bisson (3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored) and McClendon (3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored).

Kentucky got on the board first in the second inning when right fielder Chad Wright lifted a three run homer over the fence in right center. The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Wright collected his fourth RBI of the day on a sacrifice bunt that scored Nidiffer.

The Colonels plated two in the fifth to cut the deficit in half. Ottrando started the scoring with a base hit up the middle that scored Rehmel. Two batters later, Stevens laced an RBI single through the left side of the infield, bringing home Langfels.

Kentucky senior Chris McClendon’s first home run of the season made it 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats scored two more unearned runs in the inning to stretch their lead to 7-2 heading into the sixth.

A Faidley walk and two well-placed bunt singles by Rodriguez and Davis loaded the bases for the Colonels with no outs in the sixth. However, Barrows went down looking and Rehmel grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the inning.

The Colonels threatened again in the seventh when Langfels and Ottrando walked to begin the inning. However, Stevens struck out swinging, Jamison popped up to the first baseman and Faidley flew out to center to again leave Colonel runners stranded.

EKU finally capitalized in the eighth when Langfels drew a one-out, bases loaded walk to score Davis and make it 7-3. However, Ottrando went down swinging immediately afterwards and Stevens grounded into a fielder’s choice to leave multiple runners on base for the third consecutive inning.

EKU left 17 runners stranded throughout the game.

The Colonels will return to action on Sunday when they face Bowling Green State in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.