Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – One night after hitting three home runs, Eastern Kentucky did it again in a series clinching 9-6 victory at Murray State on Saturday.
 
Just like he did on Friday night, Kyle Nowlin got Eastern on the board in the first inning with a home run.  This time, the nation's leader in homers with 19, hit a two-run shot.  Taylor Blair hit a solo shot in the second to make it a 3-0 lead.  It was the second of the season for the sophomore.
 
After the Racers cut their deficit to one in the bottom of the second, Mandy Alvarez hit EKU's third home run in as many innings.  With the bases empty, the junior newcomer sent the ball flying over the wall in left field for his 12th of the season.
 
The Colonels (19-27, 10-15 OVC) scored on something other than a long ball in the fifth.  With two outs, Nowlin came home on an error to make it 5-2.  Two more runs scored in the seventh to stretch the visitor's lead to 7-2.
 
Nowlin was 2-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs.  Alvarez's lone hit in five at bats was his home run.  Blair went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
 
Murray State (14-37, 9-17 OVC) attempted to rally in the ninth, scoring three runs with two outs in the inning.
 
Logan Hershenow (4-7) allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on 10 hits in eight and two-thirds innings of work.  He walked three and struck out six.
 
Derek Yoder led the Murray State offense with a 3-for-4 day.
 
The Colonels will go for the sweep in the series finale on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.