Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Four home runs and a four-run sixth inning sent the Eastern Kentucky baseball team to a 12-9 victory over Southern Illinois Edwardsville in the series opener on Friday.
 
Three of the Colonels' (15-12, 4-3 OVC) home runs came in the big sixth inning.  Trailing by one, 8-7, with one out, Will Johnson sent the ball over the left field wall for a solo shot.  It was his seventh of the season.  Two batters later, and with two outs, Nick Howie sent his eighth home run of the season over the wall in left center.  Chris Botsoe followed with a double and then A.J. Lewis deposited the ball over the left center field wall for a two run shot.  His fifth round tripper of the season put Eastern in front by three.
 
The first home run of the day came in the top of the first inning when Charlie Ludwick hit a three-run dinger to give EKU an early 4-0 lead.  It was his third of the season.
 
The Cougars (8-15, 4-6 OVC) strung together a five-run second inning to take a 6-4 lead.  Garrett Carmichael led off the inning with a home run and Brock Weimer capped it with a grand slam.
 
The two teams combined for eight home runs.  Eastern entered the game sixth in the nation with 60 stolen bases and added five more to that total.
 
Ludwick finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and four RBIs.  Seven other Colonels recorded one hit each.  Botsoe scored three times and drove in a run.
 
Weimer had a 3-for-5 day with two runs and six RBIs for SIU Edwardsville.
 
Games two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN+, weather permitting.