WE ARE your Sports Leader & Source for College Sports …
Content by EKU ATHLETICS – SPORTS VIEW AMERICA …
Please check us out on TWITTER …
Check us out on INSTAGRAM …
LIKE & SHARE us on FACEBOOK …
Thousands of Sports Photos located at SVA PHOTOS …
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team jumped out to a 5-0 lead but couldn’t hold off a rally by first place Southeast Missouri State University in a 7-6 loss on Saturday in the series finale at Capaha Field.
The Colonels grabbed the early lead with three runs in the first inning. Cam Ridley started the game with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then stole third. Kendal Ewell followed with a walk. Daniel Harris IV singled to right to drive in one run. An error on a pickoff attempt allowed Harris to move to second and Ewell to score. A ground ball by Caleb Upshaw was enough to plate Harris and make it 3-0 after the top of the first.
EKU manufactured two more in the top of the third. After a single to left by Ewell and a double to right center from Harris to begin the inning, Upshaw grounded out again and drove in another run. Charlie Ludwick’s fly ball to center was deep enough for Harris to tag and score from third, giving the visitors a 5-0 advantage.
Southeast Missouri came back to score seven unanswered, six of which came with two outs in the third, fourth and sixth innings. Tyler Wilber hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to get the Redhawks on the board and snap a streak of 11 straight innings without scoring. Peyton Leeper’s two-out triple down the right field line in the fourth made it a one-run game, 5-4.
SEMO completed the comeback from five down by scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Connor Basler singled to left to bring in the tying and go-ahead run.
Eastern (16-29, 10-17 OVC) got within one in the ninth and got the tying run on base but could not complete the rally. With one out, Santiago Peralta tripled to right center. A single by Ridley made it a 7-6 game. A fielder’s choice and a long foul ball down the right field line ended the game.
Harris went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Peralta and Will King also had two hits each for Eastern Kentucky. Wilber finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs for Southeast Missouri (23-17, 15-9 OVC).
EKU will host Bellarmine on Tuesday at Earle Combs Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
