Box Score Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Cornell Nixon went 4-for-4 and scored three runs, and starter Jack Piekos struck out nine batters in six-plus innings, but Eastern lost 5-4 at No. 19 Tennessee Tech on Saturday.
 
EKU took advantage of two Golden Eagle errors to take a 2-1 lead in the third, but the home team came right back and scored three times in the bottom half of the inning.  John Ham hit a two-run home run.
 
Nixon led off the fifth inning with a solo home run over the wall in right field to get Eastern (26-25, 15-11 OVC) within one, 4-3.  The senior then tied the game in the top of the seventh when he singled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt.
 
Piekos retired two of the first three batters in the bottom of the seventh before issuing a walk to keep the inning going.  Ham followed with a single through the left side to push home what proved to be the winning run.
 
Piekos allowed five runs on six hits over six and two-thirds innings.  He walked four and struck out nine.  Nixon finished 4-for-4 with three runs and an RBI.  Will Johnson was 2-for-5 and scored a run.
 
Ham had a 2-for-4 day with a run and three RBIs for Tennessee Tech (43-6, 24-2 OVC).  Marcus Evey limited the Colonels to three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits in six innings of work and struck out eight.
 
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.