Box Score I Play-by-Play

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Richie Rodriguez blasted three home runs, and missed a potential game-tying fourth home run by mere inches in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team fell just short of its second consecutive come-from-behind win in an 11-10 loss to Indiana State on Sunday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field.

After ISU (6-4) used a six-run top of the fifth to grab a commanding 10-3 lead, Rodriguez hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh and a two-run job in the bottom of the eighth to rally EKU (3-7) back to within three runs, 10-7, heading into the ninth.

The Sycamores pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, but junior pinch hitter Alex Hughes galvanized a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning when he laced a base hit up the middle and then scored on a double into the right-center gap by senior #A.J. Jamison#, making the score 11-8. The next batter, junior Austin Grisham, blooped a single down the left field line, putting runners on the corners and setting the stage for Rodriguez, who crushed the third pitch he saw off the wall in left-center, plating both runners with a double and just missing on the his school-record fourth home run of the day that would have tied the game.

EKU’s next batter, senior Jacob Daniel, was hit by a pitch, putting the winning run on first base. However, sophomore Bryan Soloman went down on strikes to end the Colonels’ rally and the game.

Junior left-hander Shane Grimm (0-3) started on the hill for EKU and received the loss; however, in relief, sophomore Brent Cobb and juniors Austin Rexroat and Anthony Bazzani limited ISU to just one run on three hits over the final 4.1 innings, which allowed the Colonel offense to mount its comeback.

Right-hander Ryan Torgerson (2-0) earned the win for ISU, tossing six strong innings and surrendering just three runs on four hits. Right-hander Brandon Dorsett picked up his first save of the season as he came on to retire Soloman with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

With the home run hat trick, Rodriguez became just the fourth Colonel in school history to hit three home runs in one game and the first since Charlie Yarbrough in March of 2006. Rodriguez finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs scored and a career-high seven RBI. Jamison also produced a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Jeremy Lucas, Robby Ort and Jon Hedges all drove in three runs apiece to pace the ISU offense.

EKU will now embark on its spring break trip as the Colonels face UNC Greensboro in a two-game series this week before squaring off against Wofford in a three-game set next weekend.