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Box Score
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 3-0 lead in an 8-6 victory over Army today at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Winthrop.
The Colonels (2-3) were also scheduled to face Delaware State today, but that game was cancelled because delays in starting today’s games.
Alex Hughes got Eastern on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-run double to left field. Sean Hagen followed with a run scoring single to left for a 3-0 Colonel lead.
After Army (0-3) scored a run in the second and third innings, EKU added to its lead in the fifth and sixth innings. Kyle Nowlin’s RBI single made it 4-2. An Army error in the sixth allowed two more runs to come home for a 6-2 lead.
Army mounted a comeback bid in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Colonels answered each time. After Army shaved two runs off the lead in the top of the seventh, Luke Wurzelbacher drove in a run in the bottom half. Two more Army runners crossed the plate in the eighth, but Shaun Ball hit his first home run of the season in the bottom half. The solo shot kept Eastern Kentucky in front by two, 8-6.
Army got the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but Myles Scott induced a double play to end the rally and the game.
Starter Anthony Bazzani (1-1) allowed just one earned run over five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Scott came on in the bottom of the eighth and earned the save after holding Army scoreless over the final one and one-third innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
Demetrius Moorer went 2-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in the lead-off spot. Hagen finished 3-for-5 with a run, a stolen base and an RBI.
Patrick Mescher finished 2-for-5 for Army. Jon Crucitti went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Army had a 41-15 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Colonels will conclude play at the Coca-Cola Classic on Sunday against host Winthrop. The game will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game of the day, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
