Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Three home runs fueled Eastern Kentucky's 10-5 win over visiting Western Carolina on Tuesday at Earle Combs Stadium.

Alex Holderbach staked the Colonels to an early 2-0 lead with a two-run shot over the wall in left in the bottom of the first.  It was his 18th of the season.  Daniel Harris IV turned a 2-1 Eastern lead into a 5-1 advantage when he drove the first pitch he saw over the wall in left with two runners on in the second inning.  It was his fifth of the season.
 
Western Carolina (7-43) scored twice in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie the game 5-5.  A 38-minute lighting delay halted play before final out in the fifth was recorded.
 
The Colonels (27-26) pulled away in the bottom of the sixth.  With one out, back-to-back doubles by Tyler Romanik and Daniel McFarland broke the tie.  A single by Brandon Dehass pushed home another run.  The fourth straight hit in the inning was a two-run dinger from Cornell Nixon.  His third home run of the season capped a 4-run sixth and put the home team in front 9-5.
 
"Great job to win tonight.  They are well coached, and it was awesome for us to battle," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "We fought through a little adversity there in the middle and came back.  They scored to tie the game up.  We came back in the sixth inning after the lightning delay and scored four off their bullpen.  Then our bullpen was lights out, which was what we needed from them.  It was great to see some guys get in there.  Logan Stephens had a couple of hits.  Daniel Harris with three RBIs and two by Holderbach."
 
Kerr finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored.  Nixon was 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two RBIs.  Harris had one hit in four at bats, scored a run and drove in three.
 
Logan Teague (6-5) picked up the win after tossing two innings of scoreless relief.  Five Eastern relievers combined for four and one-third innings of scoreless relief.
 
Three different batters recorded two hits each for Western Carolina, who is coached by former EKU baseball player Bobby Moranda.

Thompson coached the game barefoot to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit organization that provides shoes to children in need.  He is the only NCAA Division I baseball coach who serves as a "Barefoot Ambasador."
 
Eastern Kentucky will close out the regular season with three home games against Southeast Missouri.  The series is scheduled to begin on Thursday at 6 p.m.