Box Score | Saturday's doubleheader will start at noon.
RICHMOND, Ky. – Four pitchers from both teams combined for 23 strikeouts and only allowed three runs, but Eastern Kentucky came out on the short end of a 2-1 pitching duel against Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite Southeast Missouri on Friday at Turkey Hughes Field.
The game was the conference opener for both teams. Due to expected rain for much of the weekend, the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday.
Southeast Missouri (7-7, 1-0 OVC) scored both of its runs on wild pitches. The first came when Branden Boggetto scored with one out and the bases loaded in the second inning. The second came with two on and one out in the sixth when Ryan Rippee came home.
EKU (7-6, 0-1 OVC) tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs,
Ben Fisher lifted a ball into center field for a sacrifice fly.
Doug Teegarden scored on the play. Eastern's attempt to take the lead ended with a double play one batter later.
The Colonels threatened in the bottom of the seventh.
Kyle Nowlin drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but Joey Lucchesi struck out the next batter to get out of the jam.
Lucchesi (3-1) went the distance for the Redhawks. He scattered eight hits, walked two and struck out 13 in nine innings of work.
EKU starter
Eric Nerl (2-1) allowed one run on two hits in three innings. He struck out four but walked five.
Caleb Johnson pitched the next four innings, giving up one run on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Spencer Jackson pitched the final two innings without allowing a run. He gave up one hit, struck out one and did not walk a batter.
Teegarden finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Luke Wurzelbacher also had two hits for Eastern Kentucky. Garrett Gandolfo went 3-for-4 for the visitors.
