Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University closed a 9-run deficit to two, but couldn't complete its comeback bid in a 9-7 loss to Northern Kentucky on Tuesday at Earle Combs Stadium.
 
With NKU leading 9-0, Ron Franklin Jr. stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the fifth and extended his hitting streak in a big way.  The senior outfielder blasted a shot 465 feet over the wall in center field, pushing his streak to 16 straight games with a hit.  Two batters later, freshman catcher Silas Shaffer hit a 2-run home run over the wall in left center to close the gap to three, 9-6.
 
Franklin made it seven unanswered runs by the Colonels with a RBI ground in the bottom of the seventh.  EKU (17-32) loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, but a double play ended the game.
 
The Norse (28-20) turned a 5-0 lead into a 9-run advantage with four in the top of the fifth.  Tyler Shaneyfelt capped the inning with a 2-run triple to left field.
 
Franklin went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run and five RBIs.  Miguel Larreal had two hits in three at bats, walked twice and scored twice.  Shaffer was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
 
The Colonel pitching staff struck out 16 and walked only four, but four errors in the field led to six unearned runs.
 
Shaneyfelt finished 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs for Northern Kentucky.
 
EKU will play its final Atlantic Sun Conference road series of the season starting Friday at Florida Gulf Coast.  Game one of the 3-game set is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.