Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eric Nerl allowed just one run in eight innings of work as Eastern Kentucky beat Belmont, 2-1, on Friday for its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season.
                
Nerl, a junior from Cincinnati, scattered six hits, walked one and struck out five while throwing 94 pitches.
 
EKU (10-8, 1-3 OVC) has won three straight games, including a victory at No. 13 Mississippi State earlier in the week.
 
The Colonels gave Nerl all he would need in the third inning.  With one out, Daniel McFarland singled to right field.  Logan Starnes followed with a single to right to get runners at the corners.  The two then perfectly executed a double steal.  When Belmont threw to second base, McFarland broke for home and beat the throw back. 
 
Doug Teegarden followed with a third straight single and Starnes scored on a Bruin throwing error.
 
McFarland finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Caleb Johnson came in to close it out in the ninth and picked up his second save of the season. 
 
Aaron Quillen pitched a complete game for Belmont (9-8, 0-1 OVC), giving up one earned run on six hits.  He walked two and struck out six.  Seven Bruins had one hit each.
 
The Colonels and Bruins will play game two of their series on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.