Click here for game one box score!

Click here for game one play-by-play!

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Murray State in both games of Saturday’s doubleheader at Turkey Hughes Field. The Colonels surged back from six runs down in game one but still fell, 10-7. In game two, Murray State ace Daniel Calhoun held EKU to one run on five hits and led the Thoroughbreds to an 8-1 victory.

With the losses, EKU drops to 19-16 (6-8 OVC) and has lost six consecutive conference games. Murray State improves to 22-15 (5-5 OVC) on the season.

The Colonels received the services of Matt Davis and Jayson Langfels on Saturday, both of whom had been injured for more than a week; however, they were without reliable weekend starter Chris Hord and senior captain Tyler Rehmel because of injuries.

Before their injuries, Davis and Langfels were national leaders in runs per game and RBI per game, respectively. Neither displayed any rust as the duo combined to go a perfect 8-for-8 with four RBI and two runs scored in game one’s losing effort.

Sophomore Paul Duncan (4-4) started on the hill for EKU in game one and received the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits. He also recorded three strikeouts.

Freshman Matt Harris came on in the fifth and finished out the game, holding the Breds to just two runs on five hits over his 4.2 innings of work.

Starter Chris Craycraft (6-2) earned the win for Murray State, pitching seven strong innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits.

EKU was paced offensively by hitting stars Davis and Langfels. Davis went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Langfels batted 4-for-4 with two RBI. Senior Aaron Barrows contributed with an RBI and two runs scored.

Murray State was led offensively by Daniel Hill who compiled four hits, four runs scored and an RBI. Bryan Propst, meanwhile, batted 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored.

EKU got off on the right foot in game one as Davis doubled to open the first, advanced to third on a wild pitch and was brought home on an RBI groundout by Barrows.

After the Breds got that run back in the top of the second, EKU scored two more in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Freshman Richie Rodriguez started the two-run inning by getting plunked by a pitch. Davis then advanced Rodriguez to third with a single through the right side of the infield. After Davis was caught stealing, Barrows walked before Langfels laced an RBI single into left field, scoring Rodriguez. Barrows scored when the next batter, junior Anthony Ottrando, reached on a throwing error by Murray State shortstop Kyle Tiernan.

Murray State, however, scored seven unanswered runs over the next two innings to take an 8-3 lead before the Colonels staged a small rally in the sixth to pull within two. With freshman Dustin Dunlop on first and two outs in the inning, Davis blasted an RBI double down the left field line that made it 8-4. Barrows then legged out an infield single that took Davis to third. After Barrows advanced to second and Davis scored on a wild pitch, Langfels ripped a base hit into right field that plated Barrows and made it 8-6.

RBI base hits by Propst and Elliot Frey in the seventh and eighth innings, however, gave the Breds a four-run advantage. An RBI single by Davis in the home half of the eighth was not enough as the Colonels fell in game one, 10-7.

Murray State 8, EKU 1

Click here for game two box score!

Click here for game two play-by-play! 

Game two was highlighted by Calhoun’s complete game pitching performance in which he held the Colonels to just one run on five hits.

Calhoun’s offense, meanwhile, jumped on EKU starter Jim Clancy early. Murray State blasted two homers and scored six runs in the first two innings to take a commanding lead that would never be challenged.

Clancy (3-3) was saddled with the loss as the junior went just two innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits.

Freshman Greg Terry came on in relief of Clancy in the third and pitched scoreless two innings, holding the Breds to just two hits. Sophomore Macon Smith worked two thirds of an inning and surrendered a run on two hits. Seniors Alex Napier and David Owens, meanwhile, combined to hold Murray State scoreless over the last 2.1 innings.

EKU was paced offensively by Davis again, who went 1-for-3 with Colonels’ lone run scored. Freshman Michael Garcia, meanwhile, led EKU with two hits.

Murray State was led by Wes Cunningham, who batted 3-for-5 in the game with three RBI and two runs scored. Zach Noonan also had a productive day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Cunningham and Hill connected on back-to-back bombs in the top of the first to give the Breds an early 3-0 lead.

After the Colonels were held scoreless in their half of the third, Murray State plated three in the second and one more in the third to put EKU in an early 7-0 hole. The Colonels’ lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Davis singled into left field, went to third on a base hit by freshman Jacob Daniel and then scored on a wild pitch.

EKU returns to action tomorrow in the final game of this weekend’s series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Turkey Hughes Field.