GAME TWO: BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY
GAME THREE: BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

RICHMOND, Ky. – UT Martin defeated the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team, 5-3, in the continuation of a rain-delayed game two on Saturday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field, and then surged past the Colonels in extra innings of game three, 4-2, to complete the series sweep over the Colonels.

With the sweep, EKU drops to 14-26 (6-9 OVC) on the season, while UTM improves to 14-25 (5-7 OVC).

Game two, a seven-inning affair that was postponed yesterday due to severe weather, resumed in the fifth inning with UT Martin up 5-2, two outs and junior right-hander Matt Harris on the mound. Harris held the Skyhawks scoreless over the final 2.1 innings of the game, but the Colonel offense could not capitalize.

EKU threatened in the bottom of the seventh as freshman Bryan Soloman legged out a two-out, infield single and then went to third on a double to left center by junior Michael Garcia, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of sophomore Austin Grisham. Grisham smacked a hard line drive to second base that was dropped by UTM’s Cory Stooksbury, allowing Soloman to score and cutting the deficit to two; however, the next batter, junior Dustin Dunlop, struck out swinging to end the game.

Freshman left-hander Kyle McGrath (3-3) got the loss for EKU, going 4.1 innings on Friday and allowing five runs on five hits. Right-hander Danny Kelley (1-5) earned his first win of the season, pitching four innings on Friday, and surrendering just two runs on seven hits. Right-hander Alec Mills picked up his second save of the season as he stifled the Colonels to one run over the last three innings of the contest.

Soloman and junior Jacob Daniel had two hits apiece in game two, while Cody Terry and Wes Patterson drove in a pair of runs each for UTM.

In game three, also a seven-inning affair, Phil Sorenson provided the decisive, pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the eighth that broke a 2-2 stalemate and gave UTM a lead it would hold. The next batter, Matt Young, added an RBI base hit to center that made it 4-2, and right-hander Alex Boshers pitched out of a two-men-on and one-out jam in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

EKU had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh as Dunlop was hit by a pitch to open the frame, sophomore Matt Phipps bunted Dunlop to second and junior Richie Rodriguez was intentionally walked, bring junior #A.J. Jamison# to the plate with two men on and one out. Jamison, however, swung at a 3-0 pitch and grounded into an inning-ending 5-3 double play.

Senior right-hander Stephen Hefler started on the mound and pitched superb in the loss, going 6.1 innings and allowing two runs while striking out four batters. Senior right-hander Ryne Purcell (1-1) got the loss as he allowed the pair of RBI base hits in the top of the eighth. Boshers (3-0) earned the win as he held the Colonels scoreless over the final three innings of the game.

Soloman paced EKU offensively in game three, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Jamison batted 2-for-4 with a stolen base and his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left in the bottom of the third. Matt Haynes led the UTM offense, batting 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.

EKU returns to action this week when the Colonels host East Tennessee State in a midweek two-game series at Turkey Hughes Field.