Conner Davis’s ninth-inning heroics, capitalizing on Silas Shaffer’s clutch single, propelled the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team to an 8-7 victory over Bellarmine University in the series opener at Earle Combs Stadium.
The second game of the series has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, airing live on ESPN+. Saturday’s game will also feature a Star Wars Day celebration, including a light saber giveaway.
In the pivotal ninth inning, Davis drew a crucial walk before stealing second base. Shaffer then connected with a ground ball up the middle, initially stopped by Luke Scales, but a fumble allowed Davis to dash home for the decisive run.
Bellarmine surged ahead 7-6 in the fourth inning courtesy of Will Aubel’s solo home run and an RBI single by Scales.
Isaac Milburn’s pitching prowess stifled the Knights’ offense in the fifth inning and beyond, conceding no walks and striking out two over three innings of stellar relief.
The Colonels (15-31, 9-13 ASUN) battled back to tie the game in the sixth inning, with Davis’s timely single bringing home Justin Carinci to level the score at 7-7.
Joe Clancy (3-3) sealed the victory with a solid two-inning stint on the mound, holding off the Knights’ offense and securing the win for Eastern Kentucky.
The game saw an explosive start with Tait Nunnally’s 2-run double and Shaffer’s RBI triple fueling a 4-run first inning for EKU. Despite the Knights’ resurgence, highlighted by Charlie Rife’s grand slam in the second inning, EKU responded swiftly, reclaiming the lead with Ron Franklin Jr. and Davis delivering key hits.
Davis shone with a 3-for-4 performance, accompanied by two runs and two RBIs, while Shaffer delivered a standout 4-for-5 effort, contributing crucially to the victory. Carinci also made his mark, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
Scales put in a valiant effort for Bellarmine (7-38, 6-16 ASUN), going 2-for-5 with an RBI in a hard-fought contest.
