NOTE: SATURDAY'S SERIES FINALE WILL START AT 1 P.M. ET
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Game 3 Live Stats
MARTIN, Tenn. – Alex Holderbach drove in four runs in game one, and
Nick Howie drove in five runs in game two as the Colonels swept an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader at Tennessee-Martin on Friday. The Colonels won by scores of 5-3 and 9-4.
With the wins, EKU moves to .500 (4-4) in conference play and improves to 11-16 overall. Eastern also clinched its second straight OVC series victory.
In game one, the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie into the seventh inning. In the bottom half of the seventh, Ben Aslett hit a two-run home run with two outs, and a 3-2 count, to swing the lead to the Skyhawks.
In the top of the eighth inning, Holderbach ripped a two-run double into right center to tie the game 3-3.
The Colonels took the lead again in the final inning.
Daniel Harris IV started the ninth with a single through the left side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs later in the inning,
Cornell Nixon was hit by a pitch and
Ryland Kerr drew a walk to load the bases for Holderbach. The junior singled to left to drive in two more runs and give the visitors a 5-3 lead.
Aaron Ochsenbein came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth. After walking the first batter of the inning he struck out the next two. With a runner on first and two outs, Ochsenbein got Aslett to ground out to second to end the game and pick up his fourth save of the season.
Holderbach finished 2-for-3 with two walks, a run and four RBIs.
Logan Teague started and allowed just one run on six hits over four and one-third innings of work. He walked four and struck out five.
Just like they did in game one, the Colonels took the lead by scoring in the top of the first inning of game two. Howie drove in a run with a single up the middle and
Will Johnson platted a run with a single of his own.
The Skyhawks (5-19, 2-9 OVC) tied the score, 2-2, with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
Eastern however exploded for seven runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings. Howie highlighted a four-run seventh inning with a three-run home run over the wall in left center. The sophomore drove in a run in the eighth with an infield single.
Howie finished 3-for-5 with a run and five driven in.
Kaven Brown started for the Colonels and turned in his first quality start of the season. He allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Saturday's series finale at Skyhawk Field is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET start.
