Box Score
RICHMOND, Ky. – In the first game at Eastern Kentucky University's new Earle Combs Stadium, the Colonel baseball team clinched its second straight series victory with an 8-3 win over Youngstown State on Saturday.
EKU opened the series with an 11-0 win on Friday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.
"It was a special day for our program, getting to open Earle Combs Stadium," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach
Edwin Thompson said. "We are so thankful, as a team, to everyone that helped make this happen. Opening the stadium with a series clinching win is great."
The new Earle Combs Stadium features a new grandstand with a brick façade and more than 900 seats, including 429 chair back seats, along with handicap-accessible seating and a new concession area equipped with restrooms. Also being added is an entry plaza for pregame gatherings.
Two home runs in the top of the first allowed the Penguins to take an early 3-0 lead, but the visitors wouldn't score again the rest of the game.
Eastern tied it up in the bottom of the third. After
Cornell Nixon stole second base,
Shea Sullivan brought him home with a single to left field.
Daniel McFarland's two-out, two-run single knotted the score 3-3.
A sacrifice fly from
Ben Fisher in the fourth put the Colonels in front for good. EKU doubled up Youngstown State in the fifth on a RBI double by
Nick Howie and a run scoring single from
Ryland Kerr for a 6-3 lead.
Alex Hamilton (2-0) did not allow a run while pitching the final five innings of the game. He gave up just four hits, walked one and struck out two. McFarland had a four hit day, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Sullivan finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two driven in.
"Hamilton gave us five scoreless innings out of the bullpen to settle things down and allow us to take control of the game," said Thompson. "McFarland made a huge impact as he got back in the lineup with four hits. We're so thankful for all the fans that made it out, looking forward to tomorrow's game and a chance for a sweep."
Youngstown State's Alex Larivee finished 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. He hit a two-run home run in the first inning.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at the new Earle Combs Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
The new stadium is named in honor of Hall of Famer Earle Combs. While a student at Eastern Kentucky, through persuasion of his friends and the students who saw him hit two home runs against the faculty in a practice game, he decided to go out for the Eastern team. He immediately became a member of the team and a hero to the students, slamming at least one home run in every game he played and compiling a .596 batting average that first year.
