Box Score
 
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Ben Fisher and Shea Sullivan notched RBIs, but it was not enough as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team dropped the series opener at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Friday, 11-2.
 
EKU (18-13, 4-6 OVC) found itself in a hole early as the Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the first.
 
SIUE (16-13, 5-8 OVC) added three more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-0 lead.
 
Eastern started chipping away at the lead in the top of the fourth. Daniel McFarland led the inning off with a single to right center, and Nick Howie followed him at the plate with a double down the left field line, moving McFarland to third. Fisher picked up his RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field, brining McFarland home and moving Howie to third. Sullivan flied out to center field in the next at-bat, bringing Howie across the plate and making it a 6-2 game. That, however, was as close as EKU would get.
 
The Cougars continued adding to their lead, eventually winning 11-2.
 
Logan Starnes led the way for EKU going 2-for-3. Howie and McFarland scored a run each. Nick Laster had another solid relief appearance, going one and one-third innings with two strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
 
Dustin Woodcock led the way for SIUE, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run. Nelson Martz picked up the win for the Cougars, going seven innings and giving up two earned runs with five strikeouts.
 
The Colonels return to action tomorrow after for game two of the series against SIUE. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.