Game One: Box Score I Play-by-Play
Game Two: Box Score I Play-by-Play

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team bounced back from a disappointing Opening Day loss to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader and win the series at host East Tennessee State. The Colonels won game one, 7-6, in extra innings and then rolled to an 8-2 win in game two, which was shortened because of darkness.

Senior Dustin Dunlop played the hero in EKU’s game one win, smashing a solo home run in the top of the 11th to untie it and give the Colonels their first win of the 2012 season.

It was the fine hit-and-run execution of junior Austin Grisham and freshman Demetrius Moorer in the top of the ninth, however, that put Dunlop in a position to win the game. EKU (2-1) entered the ninth down by a run, 6-5. Senior Michael Garcia led off that inning with a base hit through the left side and was replaced by pinch runner Moorer. Grisham and Moorer then executed the hit-and-run, as Grisham poked a single through the left side of a drawn-up infield and Moorer dashed to third. Two batters later, senior Richie Rodriguez scored Moorer on an RBI groundout to tie the game at 6-6 and send it into extra innings. Dunlop’s home run won it two innings later.

Senior right-hander Matt Fyffe (1-0) got the win, relieving senior right-hander Matt Harris in the fifth inning and going six strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five batters. Junior right-hander Anthony Bazzani came on in the bottom of the 11th and closed the deal, earning his second career save.

Right-hander Kerry Doane (0-1) picked up the loss for ETSU (1-2), pitching the final three innings and surrendering two runs on three hits, one of which was Dunlop’s game-winner.

Senior Jacob Daniel got EKU going early in game one as he ripped a two-out double down the right field line in the top of the first and then scored on a two-run home run to left center by sophomore Bryan Soloman to give the Colonels a quick 2-0 lead.

ETSU tied it with a pair of solo home runs, and then took the lead when Clinton Freeman tripled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and scored on an RBI groundout by John Long to make it 3-2.

Junior Shaun Ball, however, gave EKU another lead when he blasted a three-run home run to right field in the top of the fifth. With one out in that inning, sophomore Steve Ferraro roped his first career triple into left field. The next batter, Rodriguez, walked to put runners on the corners for Ball, who hit his second home run in as many days to make the score 5-3.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Buccaneers loaded the bases with no outs. Fyffe spelled Harris and immediately induced a fly out and a strike out without allowing a run; however, the third batter he faced, Alex Reynolds, laced a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 5-5.

One inning later, Derek Niesman ripped a solo home run left center that gave the Buccaneers one-run lead, setting up the Colonels’ rally in the top of the ninth.

In game two, senior left-hander Greg Terry earned the complete game win, pitching all seven innings and allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out three batters. It was Terry’s third complete game win of his career.

Right-hander Jake Long (0-1) got the loss for ETSU, going four innings and allowing four runs on five hits.

Rodriguez led the way at the plate in game two, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Rodriguez crushed his first home run of the season to dead center field to lead off the game. The next batter, Ball, singled and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Dunlop that gave EKU another quick 2-0 lead.

After Matthew Scruggs slugged a two-run home run in the top of the first to tie the score, EKU retook the lead in the top of the fourth as back-to-back RBI singles by Garcia and sophomore Sean Hagen plated Dunlop and junior Justin Trent. The Colonels added to that lead in the top of the fifth when Grisham doubled into the gap in left center, scoring Trent and making the score 5-2.

EKU added three more runs in the top of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Rodriguez and a two-run single by junior Matt Phipps, and the Colonels cruised the rest of the way.

EKU returns to action on Wednesday, February 22, when the Colonels travel to face in-state foe Louisville. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.