Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern Kentucky scored all six of its runs off four home runs in a 6-3 series clinching victory over Southeast Missouri on Sunday.
 
After losing the series opener by one in 12 innings, the Colonels (28-23, 14-13 OVC) won the final two games to clinch their second straight Ohio Valley Conference series victory.  Sunday's win also secured a spot for Eastern Kentucky in the upcoming eight-team OVC Tournament.  The Colonels will not be anything lower than a six seed in the tournament.
 
EKU trailed 3-2 going into the top of the eighth inning.  With one out and one on, freshman catcher Brent Lovell drove a pitch over the wall down the left field line to put the visitors in front by one, 4-3.  Eastern got some insurance in the top of the ninth inning when Daniel Harris IV hit his second home run of the game.  His two-run shot over the wall in center set the final score.
 
Redshirt sophomore reliever Darren Williams retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his third save of the season, and his second in the last two games.  Williams struck out four and did not allow a hit in two innings of work.
 
Eastern Kentucky scored first on Will Johnson's home run to lead off the game, his 14th of the season.  A solo home run to start the second inning by Harris put EKU in front 2-0.
 
Southeast Missouri (23-29, 10-17 OVC) got on the board with one run in the bottom of the second and took a 3-2 lead on a pair of RBI singles by Alex Nielsen and Hunter Southerland in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Harris finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.  Lovell was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
 
"I'm really proud of our guys today, winning a series on the road," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "We really competed the last two days after that tough loss on Friday.  Brennan Kelly gave us a great start today.  Nick Laster gave us much needed length in the middle of the game.  Then Darren Williams got the save on back-to-back days.  Clinching a postseason berth is special for us in back-to-back years.  We're looking forward to playing more games this season."
 
EKU will play its final non-conference game of the regular season on Tuesday against Western Carolina University.  The game will be played at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio and is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.