BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team was edged by Oral Roberts, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon in a pitcher’s duel at the Memphis Baseball Classic at FedExPark. Senior right-hander Stephen Hefler (1-1) started on the hill for the Colonels and got the loss despite pitching 6.2 innings and allowing no earned runs on just four hits.

The loss drops EKU to 3-7 on the season while the win improves ORU to 4-5.

Despite Hefler’s strong outing, the Colonel offense continued to sputter as EKU collected only six hits and left nine runners on base. The Colonels have scored only three runs in their last three games.

Right-hander Sean Johnson started for the Golden Eagles and tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits; however, he was pulled with two outs in the fifth and replaced by lefty Alec Smith (1-1), who went 1.1 innings and gave up one run on no hits to earn his first win of the year.

Trailing 1-0, EKU had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth when junior Michael Garcia and sophomore Matt Phipps collected back-to-back two-out hits before senior Bryce Labhart walked to load the bases; however, pinch hitter sophomore Alex Hughes struck out swinging to end the threat.

After Oral Roberts added another run in the bottom of the fifth, EKU cut the lead to one in the top of the sixth when junior Richie Rodriguez walked to lead off the inning and then scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by freshman Sean Hagen.

ORU took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh as Spencer Barnett singled, advanced to third on a hit-by-pitch and a passed ball and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Joey Winiecki. EKU had its best chance to even the score in the top of the eighth when Rodriguez and freshman Bryan Soloman singled and advanced on a balk to put two men in scoring position with just one out; however, Hagen struck out looking and pinch-hitter Michael Buschmann grounded out to quell the Colonels’ final attempt at a comeback.

The Colonels return to action this week when they head up I-75 to face Kentucky on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.