Click here for game one box score!

Click here for game one play-by-play!

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Jacksonville State in both games of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Rudy Abbot Field. The Colonels dropped game one, 13-3, before falling in game two, 14-3.

With the losses, EKU falls to 20-19 (6-10 OVC) on the season. The Colonels have not won an OVC game since April 4 when they defeated UT Martin, 4-2.

The wins improve JSU’s record to 25-14 (9-5 OVC).

In game one, EKU fell behind early, 4-0; however, the Colonels clawed back to within one heading into the bottom of the seventh before two crucial errors in that inning allowed JSU to score nine runs and blow the game open.

Sophomore Matt Fyffe (3-4) was tagged with the loss, pitching six whole innings and allowing nine runs (only seven of them earned) on seven hits.

Senior Alex Napier came on in the seventh and did not retire a batter, surrendering three runs on three hits. Senior David Owens replaced Napier and recorded two outs while giving up a run and a hit. Freshman Eric Sanders worked the final 1.1 innings of the game for EKU and held the Gamecocks scoreless.

Daniel Watts (4-2) started on the hill for JSU and earned the win, allowing three runs on four hits through 6.1 innings of work.

Freshman Michael Garcia led the Colonels offensively, blasting his fifth home run of the season in the top of the fifth, a solo shot to left center. Senior Tyler Rehmel and junior Anthony Ottrando recorded an RBI single apiece, and sophomore Jayson Langfels went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.

The Gamecocks were paced at the plate by Steven Leach, who drove in five runs while batting 3-for-4 with a run scored. Todd Cunningham, Daniel Adamson and Sam Eberle all drove in two runs during the game.

JSU scored one in the bottom of the first and three in the bottom of the third to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead; however, the Colonels slowly chipped away at the lead. Rehmel scored senior Aaron Barrows on a single through the right side in the fourth before Garcia’s blast in the fifth made it 4-2. An RBI single by Ottrando in the seventh scored Langfels and pulled EKU to within one, 4-3.

Jake Welch led off the home half of the seventh with a base hit. The next batter, Jake Sharrock, put down a sacrifice bunt, but Fyffe threw to second and was late, leaving both runners safe.

Andrew Edge then laid down a sacrifice bunt but reached and went to second on a fielding error by Rehmel, scoring Welch and leaving Sharrock at third. After Cunningham singled to right to bring home Welch, Seguin attempted a sacrifice bunt that resulted in another Colonel error, this one a throwing error by Langfels that loaded the bases. The Gamecocks scored seven more runs in the inning, only five of which were earned.

JSU 14, EKU 3

Click here for game two box score!

Click here for game two play-by-play! 

Freshman Matt Harris picked up the loss in game two’s defeat. The Lexington native surrendered 11 runs on 10 hits while striking out five in his five innings of work.

Sanders came on again in the sixth and pitched an inning, giving up three runs on four hits.

Austin Lucas (5-1) received the win, working six solid innings and holding the Colonels to two runs on seven hits.

Rehmel batted 2-for-3 with two RBI in game two to lead the Colonels. Ottrando also compiled two hits during the game.

Adamson led the Gamecocks, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI.

The Colonels jumped out to an early led in game two. Barrows walked in the top of the first, stole second and went to third on a fielding error by the second baseman. Rehmel then plated him with a sacrifice fly to deep center.

After the Gamecocks tied it with a run in the second, EKU went ahead again in the third when Barrows ripped a single into left center that scored freshman Richie Rorriguez.

Adamson, however, crushed a three-run homer to center in the bottom of the third to give the Gamecocks a 5-2 lead. He then connected on another three-run shot in the fourth to push JSU’s lead to seven. A Cunningham blast in the fifth scored two more and made it 11-2.

The Colonels will return to action tomorrow, April 26, when they face JSU in the final game of this weekend’s series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST.