Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. – In a series-opening doubleheader, Eastern Kentucky lost both games at Eastern Illinois on Friday.
 
The Colonels fell 9-7 in game one and lost 11-2 in game two.
 
Saturday's series finale has been moved to 3 p.m. ET.  Monitor EKUSports.com for any additional schedule changes.
 
In game one, Eastern Kentucky fell behind 4-0 after the first two innings but staged a big comeback midway through the game.  With two outs in the top of the fifth, Cam Ridley doubled to left with the bases loaded and turned a 4-0 game into a 4-3 contest. 
 
The Colonels manufactured three more runs in the top of the sixth.  With one out and a runner at second base, Kendal Ewell doubled to tie the game at 4-4.  Two batters later Santiago Peralta drove in Ewell with a single through the left side.  A sacrifice fly by Will King capped it and gave the visitors a 6-4 advantage.
 
Ridley scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh to make it a 7-5 game.  The Panthers rallied.  A solo home run by Trey Sweeney and a RBI ground out by Dalton Doyle tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.  A sacrifice fly and a run scoring single in the eighth completed the EIU comeback and ultimately set the final score.
 
Ridley was 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.  Daniel Harris finished 2-for-5 with a run.  Sweeney had a 3-for-4 game with four RBIs and a run scored for Eastern Illinois.
 
The Panthers (16-13, 7-7 OVC) scored 10 runs in the first three innings of game two and the Colonels (9-20, 4-10 OVC) never challenged.
 
Harris had a solo home run and finished the second game 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.  Ryan Knernschield had a 2-for-3 game with a run and four RBIs for Eastern Illinois.