Outfielders DJ Sullivan and Roderick Criss II demonstrated their prowess on the field by driving in four runs and scoring four runs, leading the Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) baseball team to a resounding 9-2 victory over Marshall University on Wednesday.
This win comes just a day after the Colonels suffered a loss to the Thundering Herd in Richmond, allowing 13 runs. However, in their latest matchup, Rian Yates (1-1) and Michael Schuler combined their efforts to limit Marshall to just two runs on eight hits. Yates started the game and allowed two runs on three hits in the first four innings, while Schuler held the home team scoreless during the next five innings, striking out four and allowing only five hits.
In the second inning, with one out and a teammate on base, Criss hit a home run over the left field wall, putting the visitors ahead with a 2-1 lead. EKU never looked back, maintaining their lead throughout the game. This marked Criss’ sixth home run of the season.
The Colonels (16-21) added two more runs to their lead in the third inning, with Logan Thomason hitting a double down the left field line, advancing to third base on a wild pitch, and finally scoring on Miguel Larreal’s single up the middle. Larreal later stole second base and scored on Sullivan’s two-out single to left-center, bringing the score to 4-1.
EKU continued to dominate in the fourth inning, with Larreal drawing a bases-loaded walk and Will King hitting a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 6-1. After the Thundering Herd managed to score in the bottom of the fourth inning, Sullivan started the fifth with a solo home run, making the score 7-2. This marked Sullivan’s fifth home run of the season.
Criss concluded the game with a 1-for-3 record, two walks, two runs, and two RBIs, while Sullivan went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs, and two RBIs. Thomason performed admirably as well, scoring three hits in four at-bats and two runs.
For Marshall (15-20), Owen Ayers went 2-for-4 and scored a run, and Chris Noble hit a solo home run.
Up next, EKU will commence a three-game ASUN Conference series at North Alabama on Friday, with the series opener scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
