Box Score I Play-by-Play

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior A.J. Jamison played the role of hero on Saturday afternoon, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team rallied for three runs in the final frame to stun first-place Austin Peay, 7-6, in game two of this weekend’s Ohio Valley Conference series at Turkey Hughes Field.

EKU (17-18, 9-5 OVC), which pulled to within 1.5 games of first place with the come-from-behind win, recorded only five hits and two RBI on the day, but the Colonels took advantage of four APSU (23-15, 10-3 OVC) errors, including a pivotal throwing error by the Govs’ closer Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the ninth that allowed two runs to score and senior Richie Rodriguez to advance to second.

After a base hit by junior Austin Grisham put runners on the corners, APSU intentionally walked senior Jacob Daniel to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore Bryan Soloman went down on strikes, but Jamison, who busted APSU starter Zach Toney’s no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth, did not, lacing an 0-1 pitch into right field to score Rodriguez and ignite a celebration in the infield.

It was EKU’s third walk-off win of the season.

Junior right-hander Chase Greene (1-2) earned his first win as a Colonel as he came on in relief and shut down APSU over the final three innings, allowing no runs on just one hit. Junior left-hander Shane Grimm started on the hill for the Colonels, but did not make it out of the fifth inning, surrendering four runs on six hits through 4.1 innings of work.

Toney took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for APSU, but left after the sixth having allowed three runs (only one of them earned) on just two hits while striking out seven batters. Rogers (3-1) took the loss as he allowed the Colonels rally for the win in the bottom of the ninth.

After APSU scored a run in the top of the first, EKU tied in the home half of the inning when Soloman reached on a two-out throwing error by the Govs’ shortstop Reed Harper, allowing Daniel to score from second.

The score remained tied until the top of the fourth, when the Govs rallied for three runs, two of them coming off a two-run shot to left field by Cody Hudson.

APSU improved its lead to 6-1 in the top of the sixth when Rolando Gautier blasted a two-run home run to right field off senior left-hander Greg Terry.

With Green stifling APSU from the mound over the next three innings, though, EKU slowly began to grind out a comeback.

After Soloman drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth, Jamison ruined Toney’s no-hitter with a base hit through the right side that put runners on the corners. The next batter, senior Michael Garcia, laced a single up the middle that plated Soloman and moved Jamison to third. Jamison then made it 6-3 when he scampered home on a passed ball by APSU catcher P.J. Torres.

EKU looked like it might rally and take the lead in the bottom of the seventh, as the Colonels loaded the bases with no outs. However, Grisham grounded into a 6-3 double play, which allowed sophomore Sean Hagen to score, but thwarted the Colonels from getting any more runs as Daniel then grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, though, EKU finally broke through, as junior Shaun Ball walked to lead off the inning and the next batter, Hagen, was hit by a pitch. Rodriguez then chopped a ball to Rogers at the mound, who overthrew first base, permitting both Ball and Hagen to score and advancing Rodriguez to second. Four batters later, Jamison ended it with a base hit into right field.

EKU and APSU will square off in the decisive game three of this weekend’s series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.