Box Score  |  Live Stats for Sunday's Game

RICHMOND, Ky. – Ryland Kerr hit two home runs and Tyler Romanik hit one dinger as the EKU baseball team beat Eastern Illinois, 5-0, on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.

With the win, the Colonels clinched the Ohio Valley Conference series.  EKU improved to 20-20 this season and moved to 11-6 in OVC play.  Eastern Kentucky has won four of its six conference series this season.
 
Kerr got it started in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run over the wall in right center.  In his next trip to the plate, Kerr made it 3-0 in the third inning with a solo shot to right center again.  It was his third and fourth home runs of the season.
 
Romanik hit his third of the season in the fourth inning, sending the ball over the wall in center field.  He drove in another run in the eighth with a double to left center.
 
"Chris Botsoe made a diving catch with two guys on that really changed the game, and also Ryland made some huge plays offensively with those two home runs," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "Our approach today was really good against a good pitcher."
 
Jack Piekos (2-2) pitched six shutout innings to earn the win.  He allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out seven.  Aaron Ochsenbein pitched a spotless ninth inning and struck out two.
 
"Another stellar pitching performance," said Thompson.  "Jack Piekos came out gave us a great performance in his first start of the year.  Also Casey Collins, Max Ford and Aaron Ochsenbein secured the shutout after we got a complete game last night."
 
Four EKU pitchers combined for the team's second shutout of the season.
 
Kerr finished the night 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.  Romanik was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
 
Three different players had one hit each for Eastern Illinois (13-24, 4-13 OVC).  Jimmy Govern was 1-for-3 with a walk.
 
The series between Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.