In a surprising turn of events, the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) baseball team defied expectations by hitting five home runs in a 17-6 triumph over the 15th-ranked Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on Friday at Earle Combs Stadium. The Florida Gulf Coast team, which ranks second in NCAA Division I baseball for the most home runs this season, was unable to match EKU’s offensive onslaught.
The series schedule has been altered, with the two teams now set to play a doubleheader on Saturday at 3 p.m. Due to poor weather forecasts, there will be no game on Sunday. Saturday’s event will also celebrate Jackie Robinson Day and acknowledge the 2012 EKU conference championship team.
EKU’s barrage of home runs began in the first inning with Logan Thomason’s fifth home run of the season, giving the home team an early 1-0 lead. Thomason’s bases-loaded walk in the second inning extended the advantage to 2-0.
FGCU (26-8, 10-3 ASUN) managed to get on the scoreboard in the third inning with a solo home run by Jake Mummau, their only round-tripper of the day. Despite a brief comeback attempt by the Eagles, the Colonels (14-19, 5-8 ASUN) dominated the remainder of the game.
EKU secured three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to solo home runs from Will King and Jalen Jones, followed by Miguel Larreal and DJ Sullivan’s pair of three-run home runs in the fifth. The Colonels then capitalized on three bases-loaded walks in the sixth inning, extending their lead to 11. The game concluded by run rule after FGCU failed to score in the seventh.
Sullivan ended the game 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs, and five RBIs, while Jones had a 1-for-2 performance with three walks, three runs, and three RBIs. Larreal contributed with a 1-for-4 record, a walk, two runs, and three RBIs, and Charlie Ludwick managed four walks and four runs.
Eastern Kentucky’s performance was bolstered by five home runs and an impressive 15 walks throughout the game. Brian Ellis of FGCU went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run, and two RBIs.