RICHMOND, Ky. –
Khaleel Pratt hit two home runs, but Eastern Kentucky University lost is series finale to Austin Peay, 12-9, on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.
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Pratt’s first home run came in the bottom of the fifth and was his third home run in the last three games. This one was a solo shot that traveled 420 feet to left center and tied it at 6-6.
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With EKU down 11-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Pratt hit a 2-run shot 413 feet over the wall in center field. Ricco Longo added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to get the Colonels within two, 11-9.
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The Governors (16-16, 7-5 ASUN) finished with two shutout innings to stymie the rally attempt.
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EKU took a 2-0 lead in the second on a RBI double from Tyler Phillips and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jackson Reid. The Govs tied it in the top of the third with a pair of sacrifice flies.
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The Colonels (9-23, 4-8 ASUN) came right back and retook the lead in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Jackson Cauthron drew a walk to force home one run. Longo followed with a single to right center that scored David Alvarez. A ground ball was good enough to plate Pratt from third and make it 5-2.
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After scoring one in the fourth, Austin Peay added three more in the fifth to take the lead. Houston Hebert’s 2-run double put the visitors on top 6-5.
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After Pratt tied it with his solo homer in the fifth, the back-and-forth continued in the sixth with the Governors taking a 7-6 lead on an RBI single from Andres Matias.
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APSU scored four runs on three EKU errors in the seventh to build its 5-run margin.
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Pratt went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs and three RBIs. Alvarez had a 2-for-5 game with two runs scored.
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Matias finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs for Austin Peay.
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EKU will play at Vanderbilt on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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