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RICHMOND, Ky.—The Ohio baseball team (1-3) fell behind Eastern Kentucky (2-3) in the fourth inning, ultimately losing the first game of the three-game series, 4-3. 

Individually, redshirt junior Xavier Haendiges (Salem, Ind.) went 3-for-4 while senior Colin Kasperbauer (Sioux City, Iowa) went 2-for-2. Fifth year Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) was 1-for-3, registering a double for the only Bobcat extra-base hit of the day. EKU finished with 10 hits, nine strikeouts and two walks. 

Peterson kicked off the game with a double, scoring the first run of the game when senior Mason Minzey (Grand Blanc, Mich.) singled up the middle three batters later. Graduate student Cael Baker (Gahanna, Ohio) flied out to right field, driving in redshirt senior Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.) and giving Ohio a 2-0 lead.

Eastern Kentucky cut into the Bobcats' lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring when a batter was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. After a scoreless second, a bases-loaded walk for Eastern Kentucky tied the game, 2-2. An EKU homerun in the fourth inning gave the Colonels their first lead of the game. Three batters later, an RBI double extended their lead to 4-2. 

The Bobcats scored their final run in the sixth off a fly-out from Peterson. Senior Braxton Kelly (Ulysses, Ky.) drew nine outs in as many batters, but unable to put more runs on the board, Ohio fell 4-3. 

On the mound, fifth year Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) got the start, registering four strikeouts and giving up four earned runs in four innings pitched. Kelly pitched the remaining four innings; in the 13 batters he faced, he gave up one hit, drew seven fly outs and struck out five. 

UP NEXT
Ohio returns to action tomorrow (Feb. 26) for game two of three against Eastern Kentucky. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. 

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