Box Score

OXFORD, Ala – Eastern used a five-run top of the first and runs in four of the first five innings to take down conference foe Jacksonville State, 11-7, and push its winning streak to seven games Friday night.
 
One game after hitting a school record four home runs against Xavier, junior catcher Alex Holderbach hit another in the first game of the Ohio Valley Conference series.  Teammate Will Johnson made a run at Holderbach's new record himself, smacking a pair of home runs in the victory.
 
In the first inning, EKU (23-20, 13-6 OVC) got a pair of two-run home runs from Johnson and Holderbach to go ahead 4-0 and not look back. Daniel McFarland brought home the fifth run of the inning with an RBI single to right center.
 
Eastern added two more runs in the top half of the fifth inning when McFarland brought home Nick Howie on an RBI bunt single to second base. Daniel Harris IV later scored when Johnson got hit by a pitch.
 
Johnson delivered his second home run of the game when he sent a 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to take a 6-0 lead in the fourth.
 
JSU (23-14, 11-8 OVC) put up a five spot of its own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nic Gaddis delivered a two-run home run and Andrew Naismith hit a solo home run to cut into the Colonel lead. Alex Strachan brought home Hayden White with an RBI single to right field to make the score 9-6.
 
Trent Simpson singled to right field to bring home Gaddis to cut the lead to 9-7 in the seventh inning, but JSU would never get closer.
 
McFarland sent a 1-2 pitch in the gap to right center to bring home two more runs in the top of the eighth.
 
Logan Teague started on the mound and went five and two-third innings. He picked up his fifth victory of the year. Casey Collins threw three and one-third innings while striking out seven and allowing one run.
 
Johnson was 3-for-4 with two home runs, one double, and four RBIs. McFarland pitched in and went 3-for-5 with one double and four RBIs. Holderbach finished 2-for-5 and drove in three runs, pushing his nation-leading RBI total to 65.
 
"Great win on a Friday night against a really, really good team," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "Logan Teague gave us a great start and Casey Collins came in the back part of the game and executed his pitches really well.  Danny McFarland and Chris Botsoe had some great bunts throughout the game to help us score runs.  To win on a Friday night, on the road is great for these guys."
  
Gaddis went 3-for-4 with on triple, one home run, and two RBIs.
 
Jacksonville State starter Garrett Farmer entered the game with a 5-0 record and a 2.95 ERA.  He allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in four innings of work against the Colonels.
 
Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State return to the field for game two of the series Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.