BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

MARTIN, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team jumped out to a 7-1 lead midway through the second inning but watched as UT Martin scored 13 unanswered runs to storm back and defeat the Colonels, 18-9, on Saturday night at Skyhawk Field. Junior Jayson Langfels led the Colonels with two home runs and five RBI on the night.

The two home runs and five RBI by Langfels sparked the Colonels to a 7-1 advantage midway through the second; however, the Colonels did not score again until the top of the eighth. UT Martin plated 13 runs during that time span.

Sophomore Matt Harris (3-5) received the loss, going three innings and surrendering seven runs on six hits. Junior right-hander Stephen Hefler started on the hill for the Colonels and went two innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits.

Coty Green (7-2) earned the win for UTM, pitching five innings and allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Dan Tobik picked up his second save of the spring, working the final four innings while allowing just two runs.

Langfels finished the night 3-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBI. Senior Anthony Ottrando batted 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI while senior Joey Stevens went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Cody Terry led the Skyhawks offensively, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Jordan Owen paced UTM with four RBI on the night.

The Colonels jumped on the Skyhawks early as sophomore Richie Rodriguez singled up the middle to lead off the game and went to second when junior Richie Allen was hit by a pitch. Langfels then crushed an opposite field three-run homer to give EKU a 3-0 advantage.

After UTM got a run back in the bottom of the first, Stevens singled to lead off the second inning and went to second on a balk. After freshman Matt Phipps was hit by a pitch, Langfels delivered again, this time blasting a three-run home run to left center that made it 6-1. Ottrando then doubled to right and came home on an RBI single down the right field line by junior Ryan Faidley, giving the Colonels a 7-1 lead.

UTM battled back, though, as the Skyhawks plated four runs in the bottom of the second – two off a bases loaded single by Terry – and then added another in the third. The Skyhawks took the lead in the fourth when Trey Karlen homered to lead off the inning and then Ty Nelson doubled in Terry to make it 8-7 in favor of UTM. Owen added a two-run shot before the inning was over.

The Colonels threatened in the sixth as Allen reached on a fielder’s choice and Langfels was hit by a pitch to put two men on with one out; however, Dan Tobik struck out Ottrando swinging and Faidley looking to end the inning and get out of the jam unscathed.

The Skyhawks got four more in their half of the sixth before the Colonels scored their first runs since the second inning in the top of the eighth. Ottrando laced a two-run single up the middle in that inning, scoring Langfels and junior Bryce Labhart and making the score 14-9. Owen, however, hit a two-run homer – his second of the game – in the bottom of that inning to neutralize those runs and put the game out of reach.

EKU will attempt to salvage the series tomorrow as the Colonels take on the Skyhawks in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. EST.