Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Starter Darren Williams struck out a career-best 11 but the Colonels fell to North Dakota State 8-1 on Friday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
Williams allowed two runs on three hits in the first inning and then shut out the Bison and allowed only three more hits over the next six innings.  He finished the night with two runs, six hits and no walks allowed over seven innings.
 
Bennett Hostetler and Charley Hesse staked North Dakota State to the 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI singles in the first.  The Colonels (21-31) got on the board in the bottom of the second when Caleb Upshaw led off the inning with his 11th home run of the season.
 
NDSU starter Evan Sankey (7-1) allowed one run on three hits, did not walk anyone and struck out four in five innings.
 
The Bison (37-16) added two in the eighth on Tucker Rohde's double down the right field line.  North Dakota State got a three-run home run from Hostetler as part of a four-run ninth inning.  Hostetler went 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs.
 
Upshaw had two of EKU's four hits, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
 
In his last eight starts, Williams has a 2.18 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 62 strike outs in 56 innings.  He's compiled six quality starts over that span.
 
The three-game series concludes Saturday at noon.