The Eastern Kentucky University baseball team entered the bottom of the ninth with an 8-6 lead over No.7 University of Arizona, but could not weather the comeback, falling by a score of 9-8 Monday afternoon at Hi Corbett Field.
The Colonels (0-4) entered the top of the second down 2-0, but quickly cut into that deficit with a single from senior Ben Fisher, followed by senior Matt Olive and freshman Nick Howie reaching base on throwing errors. Fisher scored on the error that put Howie on base. Senior Logan Starnes gave the Colonels the lead with a two-run double to right field that brought Olive and Howie home. A single from sophomore Ryland Kerr moved Starnes to third. Junior Cornell Nixon singled off a bunt that brought Starnes home. Finally, senior Shea Sullivan singled, but the speed on Kerr and Nixon allowed both of them to score, making it 6-2 EKU in the middle of the second.
The Wildcats (4-0) erased the EKU lead in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning, but the tie would not hold for long.
Eastern retook the lead in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Kerr that scored junior Zach McCrum from third. Nixon followed Kerr with a single that brought Starnes home from third as well, putting the Colonels in front by an 8-6 score.
It was the bottom of the ninth were Arizona made their comeback. A single to right field brought in two runs, and a bases loaded hit by pitch brought in the winning run.
Nixon led the way for EKU, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Starnes also drove in two and scored twice.
The Colonels return to the Bluegrass state to play at No. 8 Louisville on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Kevin Britton
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding