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RICHMOND, Ky. – A sacrifice fly by Daniel Harris IV in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Eastern a 3-2, series-clinching, win over Belmont on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
The sixth seeded Colonels will begin play in the double elimination Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. ET.  EKU will face No. 3 seed Morehead State University.  The game will air live on ESPN+.
 
Eastern Kentucky (30-25, 16-14 OVC) reached several milestones with the win.  The Colonels have posted back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since 1999 and 2000.  EKU's 16 conference victories are the most for the program since 2013.  Eastern finished tied for fifth in the OVC standings, its highest finish since placing fifth in 2013.  The victory on Saturday secured the Colonels' seventh conference series victory of the season, their most in one season since winning seven during the OVC Championship campaign of 2012.
 
Will Johnson began the bottom of the 10th inning with a double to left.  A sacrifice bunt by Ryland Kerr moved Johnson into scoring position with one out.  Belmont intentionally walked the next two batters to set up a double play opportunity at every base.  However, Harris didn't give the Bruins the ground ball they were hoping for.  He lifted a 1-1 pitch into short center field.  The throw home was off target and Johnson scored easily.
 
Harris finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and the game-winning RBI.  Charlie Ludwick had a 2-for-4 day with two RBIs.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Eastern Kentucky took the lead in the bottom half on a two-out, two-run single to left by Ludwick.  Belmont tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Chas Hadden in the top of the third inning.
 
Aaron Ochsenbein (5-2) pitched the final three innings and earned the win.  He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five.
 
Hadden went 2-for-4 with a run driven in for Belmont (26-28, 18-12 OVC).
 
"Our pitching was dominant on Saturday and Sunday.  Our bullpen was lights out," EKU Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "It was exciting for us to pick up our seventh OVC series win over a really good team on senior weekend.  This will be great momentum for us going into the conference tournament."
 
Fans can get a head start on the 2020 season by placing a non-refundable $40 deposit on season tickets that will be included in the overall price of the package.  For questions or to place your deposit, call Alex Harrison at (859) 358-9272 or the EKUSports ticket office at 844-3-GOBIGE.