LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team had three stolen bases and moved up to first in the nation in that category, but the Colonels lost 5-1 at eighth ranked University of Louisville on Tuesday.
The top-10 ranked Cardinals held EKU to just three hits, but UofL had just five hits.
Will Johnson drew a walk to lead off the game and stole second base later in the inning. Christian Lucio had a steal in the second inning. Johnson recorded his second steal of the game and sixth of the season in the sixth inning. Eastern’s season total of 20 stolen bases is two more than Eastern Michigan for the Division I lead.
The Colonels (2-2) got within two, 3-1, when Corey Conklin drew a two-out walk in the top of the fifth inning and then scored from first on a bad pick-off throw that rattled around in the right field corner.
The Cardinals (2-2) scored twice more in the bottom half of the frame. Tyler Fitzgerald led UofL with a 2-for-3 day, two runs scored and two driven in.
Johnson, Lucio and Ryland Kerr recorded Eastern’s three hits. Relievers Jacob Ferris, Brennan LeBarbera and Aaron Ochsenbein combined for five and one-third innings of scoreless relief with seven strikeouts.
EKU will open the home portion of its 2019 schedule on Friday against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. First pitch at Earle Combs Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m.
