Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Ryland Kerr hit the game-tying home run in the bottom of the sixth and two batters later Brent Lovell hit the go-ahead home run as Eastern Kentucky beat Tennessee Tech, 9-3, on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
With the win, the Colonels (25-22, 11-12 OVC) tie the three-game series at 1-1.  The series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Eastern Kentucky head coach Edwin Thompson coached Saturday's game barefoot to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit organization that provides shoes to children who need them.
 
Tennessee Tech (19-26, 7-16 OVC) turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run from Kevin Strohschein and a two-run dinger from Jason Hinchman.
 
EKU answered in the bottom half of the frame.  With one out, Kerr sent a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center to tie the game 3-3.  After a fly ball for the second out, Lovell hit a solo home run down the left field line.  It was the second of the season, and the second of the series, for the freshman from Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
 
After the Golden Eagles took the lead with two outs in the top of the sixth, and with another runner on base, Darren Williams (2-1) came on in relief and got a strikeout to end the inning.  With what could have been the tying run on and no outs in the top of the seventh, closer Aaron Ochsenbein came in and put an end to any hopes for a comeback.  Over the final two and two-thirds innings, Ochsenbein did not allow a hit or a walk, and struck out five, including the first two batters of the ninth inning.  It was his eighth save of the season.
 
A.J. Lewis went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for Eastern Kentucky.  Kerr was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.  Lovell finished 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI.
 
John Dyer had a 2-for-4 day with a run for Tennessee Tech.  The Golden Eagles totaled just four hits in the contest.