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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois rallied to give themselves a chance for a weekend Ohio Valley Conference series sweep on Saturday but came up just short in an 8-6 loss to Eastern Kentucky.
 
The Colonels avoided the sweep in a game that was pushed back to a late afternoon start due to heavy rain overnight and through the morning at Coaches Stadium.
 
When the skies cleared and the field was ready, EKU jumped out to an 8-0 lead.  The Colonels had two runs in the first and two in the second with Caleb Upshaw driving in three of the first four runs.  He had a two-run double in the first and an RBI single in the second.
 
EKU added its final three runs in the top of the sixth for what proved to be the deciding margin in the game.  Kendall Ewell had an RBI double followed by RBI singles by Daniel Harris  and Upshaw.
 
The 8-0 lead allowed EKU starter Darren Williams (1-5) to pitch through the sixth inning to pick up his first win of the season.  
 
In the sixth the Panthers began to chip into the Colonels lead with a pair of runs as Sean Lynch Jr., was hit by pitch with bases loaded for one RBI.  Christian Pena would tack on another run with a sacrifice fly.
 
EIU added three more in the eighth with Dalton Doyle delivering the big hit with an two-run single to left. 
 
In the ninth EIU scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Sweeney and then had the winning run at the plate with runners at second and third before the game ended.
 
Four Panthers collected two hits each with Pena 2-for-4 with two hits.  Keith Kerrigan, Dane Toppel and Ryan Knernschield all added multiple hits.
 
EIU fell to 16-14 on the season, 7-8 in the OVC.  Trevor Nicholson fell to 2-3 on the mound.
 
EKU improved to 10-20 overall, 5-10 in the OVC.