Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky completed a three-game sweep of Eastern Illinois with a 5-4 win on Sunday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
EKU has won four of its six Ohio Valley Conference series this season.  The Colonels (21-20, 12-6 OVC) have swept three conference teams for the first time since 2012.
 
Eastern Illinois (13-25, 4-14 OVC) got the tying run to third base with one out in the top of the eighth inning, but Aaron Ochsenbein rebounded to get a strike out and a ground ball to end the threat.  Ochsenbein then retired the side in order in the ninth, including the first two on strike outs, to secure his seventh save of the season. 
 
"Really proud of the guys today and how they competed on Sunday in a very competitive game," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "We knew it would be tough.  Their guy that came in is their guy.  He's their closer and really good.  For us to do what we needed to do early, and find a way to get the victory is special."
 
The Colonels grabbed the early lead on Alex Holderbach's two-run single in the bottom of the first inning.  It was his 52nd and 53rd RBIs of the season.  After the Panthers closed to within 3-2, Cornell Nixon drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Daniel Harris IV scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to push EKU out in front 5-2.
 
Michael Starcevich came on in relief for EIU in the fourth inning and allowed just two base runners the rest of the game.  In four and one-third innings he walked one and allowed one hit.
 
Eastern Illinois made it a one-run game again on Jimmy Govern's two-run home run over the wall in right center in the top of the sixth inning.
 
Holderbach finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs.  Will Johnson had a 2-for-3 day with a walk and a run scored for Eastern Kentucky.  Govern was 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs for Eastern Illinois.
 
"We pitched and played defense well all weekend and that is the key to our success," said Thompson.  "It was good to see us get back to things that we need to do to win the games.  Our fans were great once again, we have the best fans in the OVC."
 
The Colonels will play at Xavier on Wednesday at 3 p.m.