Game 1 Box Score  |  Game 2 Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's baseball team shut out Western Illinois, 4-0, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.  The Leathernecks won game one, 5-3.
 
Three EKU pitchers combined for the shutout in game two.  Ryker Walton (1-1) started and struck out a season-high nine batters in five and two-thirds innings.  He allowed two hits and one walk.  Aidan Rath pitched one and two-thirds.  Garrett Langrell covered the final one and two-thirds innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced.  He allowed one hit and did not walk a batter.
 
The trio combined for 14 strikeouts, allowing just three hits and three walks.
 
The Colonels (2-8) got what proved to be the only run they would need in the bottom of the first inning when Colby Ott scored on a ground out.  Just for insurance, Silas Shaffer and Ron Franklin Jr. started the bottom of the second inning with back-to-back home runs.  Miguel Larreal's RBI single through the right side in the bottom of the fourth capped the scoring for both teams.
 
Franklin finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two driven in.
 
In game one, EKU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Boone Shevey's third home run of the season.  The junior catcher sent the ball over the wall in left center with Ott on base. 
 
Ott started the third with a double to left center and came home on a single to left by Conner Davis, making it 3-0.  Kyree Alexander's two-out RBI triple in the top of the fourth got the Leathernecks on the board.
 
WIU (2-6) tied it up in the top of the fifth.  After a sacrifice bunt brought in one run, Maxton Polad doubled to right center to make it a 3-3 game.  Western Illinois stranded a pair of runners in the inning.  The Leathernecks completed their comeback in the top of the seventh, scoring the go-ahead run on Adam Juran's single to center field.
 
Polad had a 3-for-5 game with a run and two RBIs.  Shevey finished 1-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
 
EKU sophomore Nathan Lawson pitched four and one-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits.  He walked one and struck out three.
 
The series finale on Sunday will get underway at 1 p.m. and air live on ESPN+.  Sunday will be Dollar Hot Dog Day and Kids Day.  All kids 12 and under will receive FREE admission and can run the bases after the game.