Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior southpaw Jack Piekos surrendered only one earned run over seven innings to lead the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team to a 3-2 victory over visiting UT Martin on Friday night at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Piekos (3-3) – who came into the weekend ranked seventh in the OVC with a 3.67 ERA – scattered six hits, walked only one batter and struck out six.
 
Senior right-hander Caleb Johnson came on with two on and no outs in the top of the eighth and retired the next six batters he faced to earn his fifth save of the season. That number currently ranks second in the OVC.
 
The Colonels did all of their damage at the plate in the first inning. With one out in the frame, junior Cornell Nixon beat out an infield single and then stole second. After seniors Ben Fisher and Shea Sullivan walked to load the bases, sophomore Alex Holderbach also drew four balls and walked in Nixon. Freshman Nick Howie then delivered a two run single through the left side that made it 3-0.
 
Ryan Helgren blasted a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut into EKU's lead, but Piekos recovered and got out of the inning.
 
He ran into trouble again in the eighth, surrendering a leadoff double to Josh Hauser. The next batter, Connor Aube, reached on a fielding error, putting two men on with still no outs.
 
Piekos then gave way to Johnson, who promptly induced a groundout, flyout and groundout to get out of the jam with just one run allowed.
 
Johnson retired the side in order in the ninth to lock up the win.
 
The win snaps a five-game conference losing streak for EKU (15-12, 2-5 OVC).
 
Nixon finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, while Howie went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
 
UTM right-hander Winston Cannon (2-1) went seven innings and allowed only three runs on six hits, but lost the pitchers' duel to Piekos.
 
Hauser paced the Skyhawks at the dish, going 3-for-3 with three doubles and a run scored.
 
"We found a way to get the job done," said EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson. "Piekos was completely tuned in tonight, he gave what we needed and then Caleb Johnson came in and slammed the door shut in the eighth. Overall it was a great effort from all of our guys."
  
EKU returns to action tomorrow when the Colonels host UT Martin (9-13, 1-9 OVC) at 2:00 p.m. at Earle Combs Stadium.