Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior Casey Collins gave up just two runs on three hits in six innings of work, but Eastern Kentucky lost, 3-1, to Jacksonville State in the series opener on Friday at Earle Combs Stadium.

Collins walked five and struck out five on his way to earning his first quality start of the season.  His lone mistake was a 2-2 pitch in the third that Nicho Gaddis sent over the wall in left field for a 2-run home run. 
 
Eastern (21-21, 7-12 OVC) had the tying run on base with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but stranded both runners.  The Colonels then went down in order in each of the next two innings.
 
EKU attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth.  Senior first baseman Ben Fisher led off the inning and got the home team on the board with a solo home run over the wall in right field.  It was his 19th of the season.  Fisher began the weekend second in all of NCAA baseball in home runs.
 
Alex Holderbach followed with a walk and then moved to third on Matt Olive's 1-out, pinch hit single to right center.  However, with the tying run on first, the game ended on a double play ball to the shortstop. 
 
Five different Colonels finished with one hit each.  Two Eastern Kentucky relievers – Hunter Dunn and Max Ford --- combined to hold JSU to one run over the final three innings.
 
Six different players had one hit each for the Gamecocks (21-18, 9-10 OVC).  Derrick Adams (4-2) pitched seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits.  He walked three and struck out three.

"Good college baseball game," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "Both teams pitched well and hits were scarce.  I like the momentum we had late, hopefully we can carry that into tomorrow's game."
 
The series continues on Saturday with game two at 4 p.m.  EKU baseball alumni from 1980 to 1999 will be recognized before the start of the game as part of alumni activities throughout the weekend.