Box Score

FLORENCE, Ala. – Will King, Ron Franklin Jr., Conner Davis and Charlie Ludwick all hit home runs in Eastern Kentucky's 8-6 win over North Alabama in both team's first ASUN Conference game of the season.
 
King's fourth home run of the season staked the Colonels (12-7, 1-0 ASUN) to a 1-0 lead in the second.  Later in the inning, with Matthew Corlew on base, Ron Franklin Jr. hit his second of the season to make it a 3-0 game.
 
King drove in his second run of the game with a single in the fifth.  A solo home run from Davis highlighted a three-run sixth for Eastern Kentucky.  It was his second of the season and second in as many games.
 
The Lions (5-11, 0-1 ASUN) scored six times with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.  Drew Hudson drove in two with a triple.
 
Ludwick answered UNA's momentum from the sixth with a solo shot deep over the wall in right in the top of the seventh.  It was his fourth of the season. 
 
Garrett Langrell came on to pitch with two outs, two on and six runs in for the Lions in the bottom of the sixth.  He got out of the inning without any more damage and then did not allow a base runner in two more innings of scoreless relief.  He struck out four.
 
Will Brian, who entered the game tied for second in the nation with six saves, picked up his seventh after striking out two in the ninth.
 
EKU pitchers struck out 12 and walked only two.
 
King went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.  Davis had a 2-for-4 night with a run and an RBI.  Franklin had one hit in three at bats, scored twice and drove in two.
 
Hudson finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs for North Alabama.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.  The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
 
Eastern Kentucky's next home game is Tuesday against Northern Kentucky.  Baseball tickets can be purchased at EKUSports.com/2022BaseballTix or call 844-3-GOBIGE.