Box Score Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team pulled away late and defeated host Belmont, 12-6, on Friday in game one of this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference series at E.S. Rose Park.

With the win, EKU improves to 9-13 (2-5 OVC) while Belmont falls to 7-14 (0-4 OVC).

Senior right-hander Brent Cobb delivered a solid start for the Colonels, going five innings and allowing three runs (only one earned) on six hits. It was junior right-hander Ben Gullo (1-1), however, that got the win, tossing three innings of relief and surrendering three runs on three hits while striking out five batters.

Right-hander Chase Cunningham (2-2) picked up the loss for Belmont, allowing two runs in two-thirds innings of work.

Freshman Taylor Blair paced the EKU offense in the win, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Senior Sean Hagen finished 3-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored.

After EKU plated two runs in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Doug Teegarden and an RBI single by Blair, Belmont took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the third.

The Colonels responded with two runs in the sixth, two more in the seventh and then blew the game open with five runs in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Kyle Nowlin got the eighth-inning rally going with a leadoff double. After freshman Ben Fisher walked, Hagen laced a single into left field that scored Hagen. Senior Bryan Soloman followed that up with a three-run home run. Sophomore Luke Wurzelbacher tacked on a solo shot later in the inning to make the score 12-3.

The Bruins scored three runs in the final two innings, but it was not enough as the Colonels held on for a much-need conference road win.

EKU and Belmont will square off tomorrow in game two at 3:00 p.m. ET.