BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Sophomore Austin Grisham batted a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, but the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team still dropped its regular season finale to SIU Edwardsville, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Simmons Complex. The win completes the Cougars’ weekend sweep over the Colonels.

With the loss, EKU finishes the 2011 regular season with a record of 21-34 (11-13 OVC), but earned its second consecutive berth in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, to be held May 25-29 at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn. The win improves SIUE to 28-24, as the Cougars, who will join the OVC in baseball in 2012, finish the year 15-4 against OVC competition.

Sophomore right-hander Anthony Bazzani (1-9) started for EKU and received the loss, going six innings and allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out three batters. Right-hander Travis Felax (5-2) earned the win for SIUE, pitching seven strong innings and surrendering one run on six hits while fanning five batters. Left-hander Dustin Quattrocchi picked up his second save of the season as he held the Colonels scoreless over the final two innings of the game to secure the victory.

Grisham’s first-career four hit day led EKU offensively, while James Vasquez paced SIU at the plate, batting 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

EKU took an early lead in the game as junior Richie Rodriguez led off the top of the first with a double down the left field line, advanced to third on a fly out by junior #A.J. Jamison and then scored on an RBI groundout by junior Jacob Daniel#.

SIUE evened the score in the bottom of the third on an RBI base hit by Mitch Matecki and then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double into left field by Joel Greatting. The Cougars added another in that inning and then one more for good measure in the bottom of the seventh, as Felax and Quattrocchi combined to shut down the Colonel offense over the final eight innings of the game.

EKU will know its seeding in the OVC Tournament by the end of conference play today. Check back to www.ekusports.com for more information on the Colonels’ trip to Jackson, Tenn. this weekend.