Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Logan Starnes legged out an infield single with a runner on third and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team a 5-4 win over Austin Peay in the series opener on Thursday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Ryland Kerr began the 11th inning with a walk.  He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a ground ball to second.  Starnes sent an 0-1 pitch down the line to third and beat the throw to first.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.  The official grand opening ceremony for the new Earle Combs Stadium will begin at 5:45 p.m.  Members of the Combs family along with other dignitaries will participate in the ceremony.
 
The Colonels (20-14, 6-7 OVC) took the lead with a 3-run fourth inning.  Kerr scored on a passed ball to break a 1-1 tie.  Brenden Overton followed with a run scoring double to left field.  Alex Holderbach's RBI single capped the scoring in the inning.
 
The Governors (15-17, 7-9 OVC) closed the gap to two runs on Cayce Bredlau's RBI double in the top of the sixth.  Chase Hamilton made it a 4-3 game with a solo home run in the top of the seventh.  Alex Robles tied it with a solo homer in the eighth.
 
Starnes had two hits in five at bats, scored a run and drove in the winner.  Howie went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI for Eastern Kentucky.  Caleb Johnson (2-0) pitched the final four innings and got the win.  He allowed four hits, one run and struck out five.
 
"Special night, an extra inning baseball game and a great baseball game," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "A pitching duel and just really special for our guys to compete and stay with the game.  We really had hustle plays all night long, Logan Starnes ran a hard 90 there at the end to beat that out.  Caleb Johnson, Casey Collins, and the whole bullpen kept a really good offense neutralized.  Also good to see Nick Howie with three hits, and Daniel McFarland with two.  Proud of our guys, proud of the fans.  It was an awesome night."
 
Hamilton finished 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI for APSU.  Bredlau went 2-for-5 and drove in a run.  Alex Robles had a 1-for-5 day with a run and two driven in.