Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior right fielder Nick Howie hit three home runs to fuel a 9-3 win over visiting Kentucky State on Wednesday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
The Colonels (11-5) will play their first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season starting Friday at Morehead State University.  The series-opener is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 
Howie's first dinger of the game came in the bottom of the third with A.J. Lewis on base.  He sent the second pitch he saw over the wall in left center for a 3-0 Eastern advantage.  With two outs and two on in the bottom of the fifth, Howie sent a 3-0 pitch over the wall in left to double the EKU advantage to 6-0.
 
Russell Sims got the Thoroughbreds (10-4-1) on the board with an RBI double to center in the sixth inning.
 
Howie's third of the game, and fifth of the season, came in the bottom of the seventh with Ryland Kerr and Lewis on base.  This time it was a 3-2 pitch that the Oakville, Ontario native deposited over the left field wall.  The home run hat trick put Eastern Kentucky in front 9-1.
 
Howie finished 3-for-4 with three runs and eight RBIs.  Kerr and Lewis each scored twice.

"Nick Howie.  What can you say?  He does a lot for us and our program.  It was really special to have three home runs and eight RBIs but he didn't change his approach.  He had some great swings at the ball with guys on base and took advantage of it.  To have that kind of performance at home is always good."
 
Freshman Jacob Ferris (2-1) earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings.  He allowed just one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out three.
 
Sims finished 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI for Kentucky State.