Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team locked up their first Ohio Valley Conference series win of the season with a 11-3 win over the University of Tennessee Martin Skyhawks on Saturday afternoon at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Ben Fisher put the Colonels (16-12, 3-5 OVC) on the board with a solo shot home run over the right field wall in the first inning. Coming into the game UTM's starting pitcher Dalton Westfall had not allowed a home run through his 37.1 innings pitched this season.
 
Eastern added to its lead in the second when Brenden Overton grounded out to second, but scored Alex Holderbach from third on the play.   
 
After UT Martin rallied to tie the score 2-2 in the top of the third, EKU would take control of the matchup. Nick Howie singled with two outs, and Fisher followed him at the plate with another single. A Shea Sullivan walk loaded to bases for Holderbach to notch two RBI's by singling to right center.  The next batter, Cole Warrenfeltz delivered a one run single to the right side. Moments later, a wild pitch advanced Warrenfeltz and Holderbach to second and third. Then, Overton singled to shortstop, scoring Holderbach, and giving EKU a 6-2 lead.
 
UTM (9-14, 1-10 OVC) scored a run in the top of the fourth, but would not be able to claw away at the EKU lead any more.
 
Overton would score a run in the sixth as he advanced from third to home on a wild pitch, but that was not the end of the EKU offensive output.
 
The Colonels scored four more runs in the eighth. Overton scored again from a fly out to right field. Howie doubled to score Rylan Kerr and Logan Starnes. Finally, Sullivan delivered a RBI double to right center, bringing Howie home.
 
Holderbach, Howie and Overton all picked up three hits and two RBIs each. In all, seven Colonels recorded at least one RBI.
 
Nick Laster came in on relief effort for Eastern, pitching three innings, giving up three hits and no runs, enough to secure his first win on the year.
 
UT Martin was led by Tyler Albright, who went 2-for-4 and recorded an RBI.
 
"Awesome to win our first conference series at home," said EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson. "Laster was lights out in relief, and we played good team baseball. It was encouraging to see our team respond after a close game last night and separate ourselves late in the game."
 
The Colonels are back in action tomorrow and look to secure their first OVC season sweep. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.