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Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – Luke Wurzelbacher’s RBI double in the 10th inning led Eastern Kentucky to a 9-7 win at Murray State on Friday.  With the win, the Colonels clinch the Ohio Valley Conference series and have now won five of their last seven conference series.

With one out in the top of the 10th, Austin Grisham singled through the right side.  The senior then moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt.  Wurzelbacher followed with what proved to be the game-winning double to left field.  Two batters later, Kyle Nowlin provided some insurance with an RBI double to right center.

Wurzelbacher went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Colonels jumped out in front in the third inning.  With one out, Doug Teegarden singled up the middle and Shaun Ball drew a walk.  Two batters later, Alex Hughes sent the ball over the right field fence for a 3-run home run.  It was his third of the season.  Hughes finished 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.

The Thoroughbreds got one back in the bottom half of the third and then tied it on Brandon Elliott’s 2-run single through the left side in the fifth.

EKU answered right back in the sixth.  Grisham doubled down the left field line and Wurzelbacher followed with an RBI single through the right side to put the visitors back on top.  Wurzelbacher made his way to third on a wild pitch and a ground ball, and then scored on Nowlin’s infield single for a 5-3 lead.

After the first batter was retired in the bottom of the sixth, four straight Thoroughbreds reached base.  Paul Ritzheimer’s single through the left side with the bases loaded tied the game 5-5.  Ritzheimer finished 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs. 

John Wilson led off the top of the ninth with a walk.  With one out, Teegarden singled down the right field line to put runners at the corners.  Ball followed with a single through the right side.  Wilson scored on the hit and then Teegarden came home on a throwing error by the right fielder to make it a 7-5 game.

Ball had three hits in four at bats, scored once and drove in a run.

Murray State answered in the bottom half of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.  With one out and two on, Brandon Eggenschwiler scored on an EKU error to cut the deficit to one.  A sacrifice bunt by Greg Guest was enough to tie the score 7-7.

Making his first start as a Colonel, Myles Scott allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits in five innings of work.  He walked one and struck out one.  Cody Creamer (2-1) earned the win after tossing the final one and two-thirds innings.  He did not allow a hit and struck out one.

Cameron Wallace (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings.

The series will conclude on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

NOTES
Alex Hughes’ home run was his first since April 6 at Morehead State.

Eastern Kentucky improved to 2-2 this season in extra-inning games.  Murray State fell to 0-8 in extra-inning contests.

After starting conference play 2-7, the Colonels have won 14 of their last 19 league games.

The Colonels have already clinched the No. 5 seed in the upcoming six-team OVC Tournament.  EKU will play the No. 4 seed at 4 p.m. ET on May 22 in Jackson, Tenn.

Murray State will not qualify for the tournament.