Box Score I Play-by-Play

MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team staged another dramatic, ninth-inning rally on Friday afternoon, plating three runs in the final frame to edge host Morehead State, 6-4, in game one of this weekend’s Ohio Valley Conference series at Allen Field.

With the win, EKU (20-19, 10-6 OVC) improves to above .500 on the season for the first time since February 22 and takes a one-game lead on MSU (24-17, 9-7 OVC) in the conference standings. The teams entered this weekend tied for third place in the OVC.

EKU trailed 4-3 heading into the top of the ninth, but senior Michael Garcia, who just missed on a grand slam in the top of the seventh that would have tied the game, led off the inning by crushing a solo home run to left field that knotted the score at 4-4.

The next batter, senior Dustin Dunlop, reached on a single up the middle and, after two straight outs, stole second base. Senior Richie Rodriguez was then intentionally walked, bringing junior Austin Grisham to the plate. Grisham laced a hard grounder at MSU shortstop Chase Greenwell, who bobbled the ball and allowed all base runners to advance safely, loading the bases for senior Jacob Daniel.

MSU closer Matt Duncan’s second offering to Daniel was a wild pitch, allowing Dunlop to score. MSU catcher Eric Bainer’s throw to home on the wild pitch, however, got away from Duncan and Rodriguez scampered home on the play as well, suddenly giving the Colonels a 6-4 lead.

Junior right-hander Anthony Bazzani then came on in the bottom of the ninth and shut down the Eagles, earning his first save since March 25.

The win marks the third straight weekend in which EKU has rallied in the ninth inning to defeat an OVC opponent. The Colonels rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings against Eastern Illinois on April 13, winning the game on a walk-off home run by sophomore Steve Ferraro in the bottom of the 11th. They then scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat first-place Austin Peay last Saturday, winning on a walk-off single by senior #A.J. Jamison#.

Sophomore right-hander Brent Cobb (3-1) picked up the win, coming on in relief of senior right-hander Matt Harris in the bottom of the seventh and holding the Eagles scoreless over the next 1.2 innings. Harris pitched well in the start, going 6.1 innings and surrendering just one earned run on seven hits.

Duncan (2-1) received the loss for MSU, his first of the season.

MSU took advantage of four EKU errors to take an early 4-0 lead; however, EKU rallied in the top of the seventh, as Daniel, Jamison and sophomore Bryan Soloman led off the inning with three straight singles, loading the bases for Garcia, who crushed the first pitch he saw into center field, scoring two runs and cutting the Eagles’ lead in half. One batter later, junior Shaun Ball scored Jamison on an RBI groundout to second base, making the score 4-3 and setting the stage for the ninth-inning heroics.

Garcia finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Dunlop, meanwhile, batted 3-for-4  with a run scored.

Nick Duff paced MSU offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

EKU and MSU will square off in game two of this weekend’s pivotal series tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Allen Field.