BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

JACKSON, Tenn. – Freshman right-hander Anthony Bazzani pitched eight innings and struck out 10 batters and sophomore A.J. Jamison delivered a crucial pinch-hit RBI double in the top of the ninth as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team rallied for a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Murray State at the OVC Tournament on Thursday.

“Our freshmen are not freshmen anymore,” head coach Jason Stein said. “Anthony Bazzani pitched like a senior today, Austin Grisham hit like a junior. And I cannot say enough about A.J. Jamison coming off the bench cold to deliver that big hit. A great win for this team. I’m very proud of them.”

With the Colonels (28-25) trailing 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth, sophomore Jacob Daniel galvanized the rally with a lead-off double into left center. Stein then made the call to pinch hit Jamison for senior Joey Stevens. Despite not having an at-bat since May 9 and not having a hit since April 13, Jamison took a 3-2 fastball and roped into left center, scoring pinch-runner Richie Allen and tying the game.

After a groundout by sophomore Dustin Dunlop advanced Jamison to second, junior Bryce Labhart gave the Colonels the lead for good with a sacrifice fly to right field that made it 4-3.

Junior right-hander Ryne Purcell allowed one hit in the bottom of the ninth but was able to secure the win and lock up his league-leading 12th save of the season.

The win, however, began with masterful performance on the mound by Bazzani (5-3), whose 10 strikeouts was one shy of the neutral site OVC Tournament record. Bazzani finished the game with a line of eight innings, three runs on six hits and 10 strikeouts.

Southpaw Matt McGaha (5-2) received the loss for Murray State as the Colonels were able to rally against the second team All-OVC selection in the top of the ninth.

Sophomore Richie Rodriguez had a huge day at the plate for the Colonels, going 4-for-5 with a run scored. Freshman Austin Grisham, meanwhile, went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Daniel collected a pair of double for EKU on the afternoon.

Bryan Propst paced the Thoroughbreds offensively as he batted 2-for-3 and drove in all three of Murray State’s runs. Bazzani was able to hold OVC Player of the Wes Cunningham to no hits in three at-bats.

The Breds got on the board first in the bottom of the first as Propst ripped a two-run double down the right field line, scoring Cunningham and Zach Noonan.

With Bazzani finding his groove after the first inning, however, EKU began to chip away at the lead as Rodriguez singled, went to third on a base hit by Grisham and then scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Jayson Langfels. The Colonels then tied it in the top of the eighth as Labhart walked to lead off the inning, went to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a single by Rodriguez and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Grisham.

The Breds, though, took the lead back in the bottom of the inning as Propst delivered again, this time driving a double into left center that scored Elliot Frey and made it 3-2 heading into the ninth inning.

This is EKU’s first OVC Tournament win since 2007 when the Colonels defeated Murray State, 5-3.

The Colonels return to action tonight when they face OVC regular season champion Tennessee Tech at 8:30 p.m. EST.