Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio – Newcomer A.J. Lewis had three hits and drove in two runs, and freshman Jacob Ferris pitched three shutout innings in his first collegiate start as Eastern Kentucky beat Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday at Wright State University's Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.
 
The two teams will conclude their four-game series with a single game on Sunday at WSU's Nischwitz Stadium.  First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.
 
Eastern won each of the first three games in the series.
 
The Colonels (5-2) drew first blood with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.  Christian Lucio scored on a ground out and then Marcus Hill brought home Lewis with a bunt single down the third base line.
 
Lewis had a two-run single up the middle in a 3-run third inning that gave EKU a 5-0 advantage.
 
The Hawks (1-6) platted one in the sixth and three in the top of the eighth to get within 5-4.  Devynn Hancock had a two-run double in the eighth.  With the bases loaded and the margin down to one, Nick Laster came in to pitch for Eastern and struck out two straight batters to end the threat.
 
Lewis finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.  Nick Howie was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to two.  Ferris allowed just one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out one in three innings of work.
 
"Our offense put a lot of pressure on them early.  Jacob gave us a great start and Nick Laster came in and got us out of a jam," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "Nick Howie had a big hit late to give us some insurance.  Howie and Lewis had a great day at the plate for us."