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OXFORD, Ala. – Austin Perry pitched seven shutout innings to lead sixth seeded Eastern Kentucky past No. 5 seed Austin Peay, 5-1, at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday at Choccolocco Park.

The Colonels (29-30) will continue their quest through the elimination bracket on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.  Eastern's opponent will not be determined until after the second game on Friday, which begins at 4 p.m.  EKU has guaranteed itself a spot among the final four teams.
 
Perry (5-2), a senior right-hander, stopped the Governors in their tracks.  He allowed one run on six hits, walked two and struck out three in seven and two-thirds innings of work.  It was his longest outing of the year.
 
As it turned out, his teammates gave him all the run support he would need in the first two innings.  Nick Howie, the second batter of the game, sent a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left center to put Eastern on top 1-0.  Daniel McFarland hit a sacrifice fly in the second for a 2-0 lead. 
 
Alex Holderbach's two-out RBI single to right in the fifth extended the lead to 3-0.  Ryland Kerr scored on an error and Will Johnson drove in McFarland with a single to left center in the sixth to put EKU in front 5-0.

Aaron Ochsenbein came on with a runner on base and two outs in the bottom of the eighth.  He got a strike out to end the threat.  He followed by striking out the side in the ninth on his way to earning his 10th save of the season.
 
Kerr finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.  Howie went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
Malcolm Tipler want 2-for-4 with a run scored for Austin Peay (30-27).
 
Eastern Kentucky began play at the OVC Tournament with a loss to No. 3 seed Morehead State on Wednesday.  The Colonels knocked off No. 7 Murray State 13-6 on Wednesday night in the elimination bracket.  EKU is two more wins away from reaching the championship round.

"Anytime you have two long, emotional games like yesterday – for us to come back and establish ourselves from the start with Nick Howie's home run in the first inning was a big part of it," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "Their pitcher was really good.  He struggled a little throughout the game but we stayed consistent throughout and scored when we could.  Austin Perry was as good as I have seen since I been here as far as the moment and the opportunity.  Coach Revelette, Austin, and Holderbach had a really good game plan today.  I thought we executed really well.  I think our defense was key.  We had some good plays in the outfield, but the key was after we scored two Austin came out and got that double play with Parker Phillips.  That kind of crushed any momentum they had."