Scruggs shines, Bucs fall

The Eastern Kentucky baseball team came out swinging with a 7-6 extra-inning victory. They rode momentum for an 8-2 game two win to complete the doubleheader sweep of ETSU Saturday at Thomas Stadium.

Senior Matthew Scruggs led the way for the Bucs offensively as he went a combined 3-for-7 in the two games with two home runs and three RBIs.

Andrew Green, Clinton Freeman and Derek Niesman each had three hits on the day as well.

Game One Recap

Eastern Kentucky got off to a quick start in the first inning by scoring two runs on two hits. However, Jacob Daniel doubled to right field and Bryan Soloman followed with a two-run home run to left field — putting the Colonels in front 2-0.

ETSU answered in the bottom half of the first as Scruggs blasted his second homer of the year to pull the Bucs within one.

The Bucs tied the score in the second inning as John Long started the inning with a towering home run to left center field — in his first at-bat of the year.The game went back and forth and they couldn't break the tie in regulation.

In the 11th, Dunlop led off with a deep home run to left field. The home run proved to be the game winner as the Bucs were unable to rally.

Game Two Recap

The second game of the day looked as if it was going to be a slugfest from the very beginning as Rodriguez blasted a leadoff home run to put the Colonels in front 1-0. After a single and a walk, Dunlop put EKU up 2-0 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI.

Much like they did in game one, the Bucs responded in the bottom half of the inning as Green led off the inning with a single and then scored on Scruggs' second home run.

EKU answered back in the fourth with two runs to put them ahead.

The Colonels added to that lead in the top of the fifth when Grisham doubled into the gap making the score 5-2.

EKU added three more runs in the top of the sixth. The Bucs were not able to answer as they were held scoreless for the final six innings.