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RICHMOND, Ky. – Purdue scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead and held on to beat the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team, 7-3, on Wednesday afternoon in the second and final game of the midweek series at Turkey Hughes Field. With the loss, the Colonels fall to 7-7 on the season while Purdue improves to 4-8.

EKU took a 3-2 lead into the eighth, but Stephen Talbott singled to lead off the inning, stole second and came home on an RBI single to left by Kevin Plawecki that tied the score. Cameron Perkins and pinch hitter Drew Madia then hit back-to-back solo home runs to give the Boilermakers a lead they would not relinquish.

Junior right-hander Ryne Purcell (1-1) pitched the eighth inning and received the loss, allowing three runs on five hits.

Sophomore Greg Terry started on the hill for the Colonels and threw six solid innings, surrendering just two runs and six hits.

Pat Gannon (1-1) got the win for Purdue, going 1.2 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. He was the pitcher of record when the Boilermakers rallied for the lead in the eighth.

Calvin Gunter, meanwhile, picked up his second save of the season by pitching a perfect eighth and ninth innings.

Sophomore Jacob Daniel led EKU with two hits on the day while sophomores Richie Rodriguez and Michael Garcia recorded the Colonels’ only two RBI of the afternoon.

Talbott and Perkins paced the Boilermakers’ offense with three hits apiece while Perkins led Purdue with four runs driven in.

After Purdue struck first with a run in the first inning, the Colonels tied it in the bottom of the second as Garcia hit a looping single into right field that scored junior Ryan Faidley.

EKU added to that lead in the fourth when senior Anthony Ottrando doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. The Colonels scored another in the fifth as freshman Austin Grisham doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on an RBI groundout by Rodriguez to make the score 3-1.

The Boilermakers got one back in the sixth off another RBI by Plawecki before rallying past EKU in the eighth.

The Colonels will now have one day off before hosting Bowling Green State in a three game series this weekend. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.