Eastern Kentucky 12 Southeast Missouri 9 - PDF Version

JACKSON, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri's rally fell three runs short as Eastern Kentucky defeated the Redhawks 12-9 Friday afternoon in an elimination game in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at the Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, Tenn.
 
The Redhawks trailed 9-0 after four innings and managed to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning as EKU took the contest on a diving catch in left field by the shortstop.
 
The Redhawks finish the season 26-33 overall and improvement of three wins from the 2012 campaign.
 
The Redhawks and Colonels each added 18 hits combining for 36 on the afternoon. Five Redhawks had multi-hit contest for Southeast with Jason Blum adding four with three runs scored as he tied the Southeast Missouri single season games played record with his 59^th start of the season.
 
Derek Gibson and Matt Tellor added three hits as they each also added two RBI and a runs scored as the first three Redhawks in the order combined for 10 hits.
 
Senior Bobby Hurst tied the Southeast single season appearances record as he recorded his 30^th of the season in the contest as he went two innings.
 
Eastern Kentucky raced out to a 9-0 lead on the Redhawks in the first four innings as they added two runs in the first, four in the second and two in the third and one in the fourth.
 
The Redhawks got on the board in the top of the fifth inning with three runs to cut the Colonels lead to 9-3.
 
Southeast Missouri added runs on a pair of sacrifice flies by Dalton Hewitt and Derek Gibson. Matt Tellor added an RBI double off the right field fence.
 
The Redhawks added two runs in the top of the sixth inning as Gibson and Tellor drove in runs on a pair of two out RBI singles.
 
EKU added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI double from Alex Hughes and a two-run single from Kenny Hostrander to make it 12-5 in favor of the Colonels.
 
The Redhawks made it interesting with four runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the EKU lead to 12-9.
 
Hewitt drove in a run on base hit as Noaln Fisher added an RBI on a hit by pitch. Ryan Barnes highlighted the frame with a two-run single through the right side.
 
The Redhawks threatened getting the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but a diving catch by EKU shortstop Luke Wurzelbacher ended the contest.
 
Matt Lynch (2-5) earned the win for EKU going seven innings allowing five runs on 12 hits.
 
Alex Hughes led the Colonels offensive attack on the day going 4-for-5 with two runs and RBI and two doubles.
 
Three Redhawk seniors played their final games in a Southeast uniform as Hurst, Trevor Kill and Tony Zerrusen all saw time out of the Southeast bullpen.