Box Score I Play-by-Play

MARTIN, Tenn. – Senior Jacob Daniel batted 2-for-4 with two RBI and his Ohio Valley Conference-leading sixth triple of the season, but it was not enough as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team dropped its series opener to UT Martin, 11-7, on Friday evening at Skyhawk Field.

The loss snaps EKU’s five-game winning streak, and drops the Colonels, who entered this weekend tied for second place in the OVC, to 22-20 (12-7 OVC). The win improves UT Martin to 12-32 (6-13 OVC).

Daniel is now hitting .375 with 20 RBI and 20 runs scored since the beginning of April. He currently leads EKU with 40 RBI on the season.

Senior right-hander Matt Harris (4-5) picked up the loss for EKU, going three innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits. All eight of the runs he allowed came in the bottom of the third inning.

Right-hander Alec Mills (3-5) earned the win for UTM, working 6.2 innings and surrendering seven runs (only one of them earned) on five hits while striking out six batters.

EKU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but UTM, which has now won five straight over EKU, blew the game open by plating eight runs in the bottom of the third.

The Colonels got one run back in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple by Daniel, and then scored three more in the top of the seventh to cut the Skyhawks’ lead to one, 8-7. Daniel, again, started that rally when he laced an RBI base hit through the left side, scoring junior Alex Hughes. Sophomore Bryan Soloman then made it 8-7 with a two-run single up the middle that plated Daniel and senior Richie Rodriguez.

UTM, however, scored three insurance runs in the final three innings to finally put the game away.

Soloman led EKU with three RBI in the game, while Rodriguez scored a team-high three runs.

Jordan Owen and Phil Sorenson both collected three hits apiece in the winning effort for UTM.

EKU and UTM will square off tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in game two of this weekend’s series.