Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky managed just seven hits in a 5-2 defeat to Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field.
 
A TJ Alas sacrifice fly that scored Kyle Nowlin in the first inning gave the home team an early lead. Nowlin had two of the seven total Colonel hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
The Gamecocks (25-21, 12-11 OVC) tied the Colonels at 1-1 in the fourth inning.  Right fielder Elliot McCummings took a Logan Hershenow pitch up the middle that scored Ryan Sebra.  
 
Jacksonville State then took the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning when first baseman Paschal Petrongolo singled up the middle to score Clayton Daniel.  A fielding error let another Jacksonville State run score to push the lead to 3-1.  
 
EKU (17-26, 8-14 OVC) had a couple of chances late to get back in the game. During the bottom half of the seventh inning, Alas reached second base with no outs, but after two batters were put out Alas was picked off by pitcher Jake Walsh.  
 
The Colonels' threatened again in the bottom of the eighth inning – loading the bases with just one out – but scored just one to make it 3-2.
 
Jacksonville State scored two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to set the final score.
 
Hayden White had a 3-for-4 day with two runs scored for JSU.  Four other Gamecocks had two hits each.
 
Walsh (3-2) allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out six in seven and one-third innings.  Hershenow (3-7) gave up three runs, only two of which were earned, on 12 hits and struck out four.
 
EKU will finish the series against Jacksonville State Sunday at 1 p.m. at Turkey Hughes Field.