Golden Eagles can’t complete sweep, Colonels take Sunday’s finale, 7-3
EKU starter Stephen Hefler held the Golden Eagle line-up scoreless through eight of Sunday’s nine innings of play, allowing Tech to post runs in only the seventh inning of play en route to Eastern’s 7-3 win.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – EKU starter Stephen Hefler held the Golden Eagle line-up scoreless through eight of Sunday's nine innings of play, allowing Tech to post runs in only the seventh inning of play en route to Eastern's 7-3 win.
Hefler, who was awarded the win, pitched a scoreless game through six, striking out five on the day and allowing just three runs on seven hits and one walk.
Meanwhile, the Colonel lineup jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, working Nick Price for three runs on three hits. This included a two-RBI double by Bryan Soloman, who would not only pace EKU in the first inning but also on the day with a 3-for-5, two RBI showing.
The Colonels put three more runs up in the top of the fifth, this time on a double by Dustin Dunlop and an RBI base hit by Steve Ferraro, while the Golden Eagles saw only six base runners through their first six innings at the plate.
Headed into the bottom of the seventh frame down 6-0, Tech was able to put together a three-run rally, courtesy of Devin Rivers' two-on homer to cut the lead to three, but only put one man on base over the course of the rest of the game. Eastern Kentucky tacked on another run in the top of the ninth to make the score its final 7-3.
Rivers led the Golden Eagles at the plate with a 2-for-4, three RBI performance.
Hefler improved to 5-4 on the season after his efforts on the hill for EKU, while Price got the loss after pitching just 1.2 innings and striking out one.
Without a mid-week contest to focus on, Tech will now look ahead to their next conference series, a road match-up at Austin Peay next weekend.
