GAME ONE BOX SCORE
GAME ONE PLAY-BY-PLAY

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team swept a doubleheader from preseason OVC favorite Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field, winning game one, 1-0, in 12 innings before taking game two, 6-3.

The doubleheader was the conference opener for both teams. With the wins, EKU improves to 10-11 (2-0 OVC) while EIU falls to 4-17 (0-2 OVC).

Junior Ryan Faidley delivered the game-winning single with two outs and a full count in the bottom of the 12th of game one, lacing a base hit up the middle with the bases loaded to score sophomore Dustin Dunlop and finally end the marathon pitcher’s duel.

Junior right-hander Stephen Hefler started on the mound for EKU and delivered a stellar performance, going eight scoreless innings while scattering eight hits and striking out six batters.

Hefler gave way to sophomore Matt Harris (1-3) in the ninth and Harris earned the win, holding the Panthers scoreless over the final four innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five batters.

Mike Recchia started on the hill for the Panthers and pitched seven scoreless innings, giving up just five hits and striking out seven.

Matt Miller (0-6) received the loss for EIU as he worked 4.2 innings and was responsible for the lone run of the contest.

Senior Joey Stevens was the only Colonel with two hits during the game.

Curt Restko, Daniel Rowe and Ryan Dineen all collected two hits for the Panthers.

There were only two extra base hits in the entire 12 innings.

The Panthers threatened in the top of eighth, putting a runner on third base with just one out; however, Hefler, in his last inning of work, fanned the next two batters to escape the jam.

EIU put another running in scoring position with just one out in the top of the 11th, but Harris, like Hefler, got the next two batters he faced to strike out.

EKU 6, EIU 3

GAME TWO BOX SCORE
GAME TWO PLAY-BY-PLAY

In game two, the Panthers took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth, but the Colonels exploded for five in that inning to take a lead they would hold.

Sophomore Michael Garcia tied it in that inning with a two-run single to right that scored Faidley and junior Jayson Langfels. Stevens then gave EKU the lead with an RBI base hit that plated Garcia. Sophomore Richie Rodriguez blasted a two-run double into left center later in the inning, scoring Stevens and Dunlop and making the score 5-2.

EIU got a run back in the fifth off an RBI single by Alex Gee; however, the Colonels neutralized that run in the bottom half of the inning as Dunlop was walked with the bases loaded.

Junior left-hander Paul Duncan (2-1) got the win, going five innings and allowing three runs on eight hits. Sophomore southpaw Greg Terry earned his first career save by pitching the final two innings while allowing no runs on one hit.

Mike Hoekstra (1-1) picked up the loss, pitching four innings and allowing six runs (only three earned) on eight hits.

Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to an OVC-best 14 games by going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Langfels batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Restko and Ben Thoma both had three hits for the Panthers.

The Colonels will go for the series sweep of the Panthers tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Turkey Hughes Field.