Box Score vs. Belmont  |  Box Score vs. Morehead State

MARION, Ill. – Eastern Kentucky beat Belmont, 15-8, in an elimination game at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Friday, but the Colonels couldn't keep their run going, falling to Morehead State, 11-3, in a second elimination game at Rent One Park.
 
Against Belmont (27-30), the Colonels scored early and often.  After putting two on the board in the top of the first, EKU added runs in each of the next four innings, taking a 14-5 lead.
 
Brent Lovell's solo home run in the top of the second staked Eastern to a 3-0 lead, however the Bruins answered with four in the bottom half of the frame to take a one-run edge.  The Belmont advantage would be short-lived.  In the top of the third, Logan Thomason led off the inning with a home run to tie the game.  Freshman Michael Brewer had a two-out, two-run single to right to make it 6-4 and the Colonels never looked back.
 
Eastern Kentucky scored six times in the top of the fifth to pull away.  Brewer, Thomason and Daniel Harris IV had RBI singles.  A.J. Lewis drove in two with a single to center. 
 
Brewer had a 4-for-5 day with two runs and three RBIs.  Thomason was 3-for-4 with four runs and two RBIs.  Harris was 3-for-6 with a run and two RBIs.

"We talked about coming out and being aggressive from the beginning," Eastern Head Coach Edwin Thompson said.  "We wanted to make sure we scored some runs early.  We focused on getting out pitches."
 
Nick Borek earned the save after pitching the final three and one-third innings.  He allowed one run on four hits and struck out five.  Brennan Kelly (4-4) started and earned the win after pitching five and two-thirds innings.
 
In its second game of the day, EKU (32-27) erased an early 1-0 Morehead State lead when a fly ball down the left field line with the bases loaded from Corey Conklin dropped between three fielders.  All three runners scored to put the Colonels up 3-1.
 
The defense helped keep the Eagles (39-20) at bay by turning double plays in the second, third and fourth innings, but Morehead State plated eight in the fifth to turn the tide.  Hunter Fain capped the big inning with a bases clearing double to right center that put MSU ahead 9-3.
 
Conklin finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.  Thomason was 2-for-4 in game two.

"This has been a special season and it's unfortunate seeing it come to an end," said Thompson.  "I wanted to play another day for these seniors.  They've given so much to this program."
 
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.