Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The EKU baseball team fell victim to a four-run fourth inning and saw its comeback bid fall just short as the Colonels dropped a 5-4 decision to UNC Asheville on Friday night at Earle Combs Stadium. 

Will King put EKU up early with a solo shot in the bottom of the second, kicking off a three-run frame for the Colonels. EKU loaded the bases and an RBI single from Conner Davis doubled the Colonels' advantage. Ron Franklin Jr. scored on a fielder's choice to give EKU a 3-0 lead after two innings. 

The Bulldogs battled back with four runs of their own in the fourth and added another in the sixth to build a 5-3 advantage entering the final third of the contest. The Colonels trimmed the deficit to one in the eighth inning as Logan Thomason doubled and came home on a two-bagger from Charlie Ludwick. EKU put the tying run aboard in the bottom of the ninth, but could not push it across as UNCA claimed the first game of the series. 

Davis led the Colonels at the plate, going 2-for-3 on the evening. Isaac Milburn took the loss for EKU, allowing one run in 0.2 innings of work. Cameron Kalandros closed the night on the mound for the Colonels, holding UNC Asheville to one run over 5.0 innings. 

The series resumes on Saturday as the Colonels and Bulldogs tangle at 2:00 p.m.