BOX SCORE

PLAY-BY-PLAY

CLINTON, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team rolled past Presbyterian College, 9-4, Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of this weekend’s series. Freshman right-hander Anthony Bazzani (1-1) turned in a quality start, going seven innings and allowing two runs on three hits for his first career win.

Junior Jayson Langfels and freshman Matt Phipps both collected two hits on the day to pace the Colonel offense, while Langfels and junior Richie Allen drove in a pair of runs apiece.

Jesse Harmon (0-2) picked up the loss for PC (2-9), working 6.1 innings and allowing six runs on five hits.

Mack Hite led the Blue Hose offense with a 2-for-4 performance and two RBI.

The Colonels (4-3) were held without a base runner through three innings, but exploded for four runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Richie Rodriguez walked to begin the inning and advanced to second a on a bunt by junior Bryce Labhart. Langfels then laced a single into left field that scored Rodriguez. Langfels advanced to second on the throw home and then went to third on a failed pickoff attempt. After senior Anthony Ottrando walked, sophomore Michael Garcia doubled down the left field line to score Langfels. Allen then punched a single through the right side to plate Ottrando and Garcia and make the score 4-0.

The Blue Hose got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth when Hite smacked a bases-loaded single that cut the Colonels’ lead to 4-2; however, EKU matched those two runs in the top of the seventh as Labhart plated Phipps with an RBI fielder’s choice and Ottrando drove in Labhart with a single to left center.

EKU added another in the top of the eighth as Langfels scored freshman Kyle England with a single to third base that pushed the Colonels’ advantage to 7-2.

PC threatened in the bottom of that inning as the Blue Hose put runners on first and second with one out, but Rodriguez made a diving catch at shortstop that led to an inning-ending double play.

The Colonels then added insurance runs in the ninth as junior Ryan Faidley and sophomore #A.J. Jamison# blasted back-to-back solo home runs. Faidley’s home run was the first of his career.

Aaron Preston blasted a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth to close the gap, but junior Ryne Purcell was able to get out of the inning and end the game.

The Colonels will now have a day off before travelling to play UNC Greensboro on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.