Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Alex Holderbach's bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Eastern Kentucky a 16-15 victory over visiting Western Kentucky on Wednesday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Cornell Nixon led off the 10th inning by drawing a walk.  After a sacrifice bunt, Ben Fisher was intentionally walked.  Shea Sullivan beat out a ground ball to the shortstop to load the bases for Holderbach.  The sophomore drove the first pitch he saw over the head of a drawn in outfield to plate the winning run.
 
"Tonight was special, we played a rival for the first time since 2012 and won with a walk off in extra innings," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "We found a way to get it done when it mattered.  Caleb and Hunter put zeroes on the board when we needed them.  Shea played a big game with four hits and four RBIs, Danny came up big again with four hits as well, and Holderbach getting his fourth hit with a walk off is truly special."
 
Right-hander Hunter Dunn (2-0) did his part to keep the game tied in the top of the 10th.  The junior retired the side in order on three straight strikeouts.
 
Daniel McFarland had four hits in five at bats and scored four runs for the Colonels (7-6).  Sullivan finished 4-for-6 with three runs and four RBIs.  Holderbach had a 4-for-6 night with a run and three RBIs.  EKU totaled 21 hits on the night.
 
Steven Kraft led the Hilltoppers (5-9) with two home runs and four RBIs.  He went 3-for-5 and scored three runs.
 
Eastern Kentucky scored six unanswered runs in the first two innings to grab the early lead.  Fisher's two-run double highlighted a 4-run first inning.  WKU answered with six runs combined in the third and fourth innings to tie the game.  Kraft had a two-run home run in the top of the third.
 
Sullivan's ground out in the bottom of the fourth put EKU back on top briefly, 7-6.  The Hilltoppers came right back and scored three in the top of the fifth and two more in the sixth for an 11-8 lead.
 
The Colonels erased that deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it.  Eastern then erased another three-run WKU lead with four in the bottom half of the seventh inning.  Back-to-back run scoring hits by Sullivan and Holderbach cut the margin to one, 14-13.  On a double steal attempt, the ball went into left field allowing both Sullivan and Holderbach to score, giving EKU a 15-14 lead.
 
Kraft's second dinger of the night tied the game again in the top of the eighth.
 
The two teams combined for 31 runs, 34 hits and 19 walks.  Eight Eastern Kentucky pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.
 
Changes to this weekend's schedule have been made due to incoming winter weather.  The series against Belmont will begin Thursday at 2 p.m. at Earle Combs Stadium.  The teams will conclude the series on Friday with a doubleheader starting at noon.