Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sophomore infielder Ryland Kerr's three RBIs pushed the EKU baseball team past the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 3-2 Friday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky.
 
Both teams were scoreless going into the bottom of the second, when a Kerr RBI double to right center put the Colonels (1-5) on top 1-0, scoring Logan Starnes.
 
However, the Golden Bears (1-5) would respond, as Myles Zilinsky homered to right center in the top of the third to even up the score at 1-1.
 
A Kerr RBI single through the right side stopped the Oakland momentum in the bottom of the fourth, as Ben Fisher would come in to score to make it 2-1. Kerr, once again, would score Brenden Overton in the bottom of the sixth on a single to right field, extending the Colonel lead to 3-1.
 
Oakland would not go down without a fight. In the top of the ninth, Connor Fannon singled to the right side with two runners on base, scoring one, cutting the deficit to 3-2. On the next batter, the Golden Bears looked to add one more on base and possibly score another, but Cornell Nixon made a play coming from second base to get the out at first. Caleb Johnson would strikeout the next batter to seal the win.
 
Jack Piekos led EKU on the mound, fanning 11 batters on the day, while only giving up one hit and one earned run in seven innings.
 
As a team, the Colonels tallied eight hits with no errors.
 
EKU will be back in action tomorrow for game two against Oakland at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.