NEW ORLEANS, La. – Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team built a 4-2 lead in its season-opener against Grambling State University at the Andre Dawson Classic on Friday in New Orleans, but the Colonels couldn’t stave off a comeback and lost 7-4.
EKU’s game against Florida A&M on Saturday will air live on the MLB Network and MLB.com at 8 p.m. ET.
The Colonels plated three runs in the top of the third to break a scoreless tie. With runners at second and third, Chris Botsoe doubled to left to bring home both. Daniel Harris IV capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to right.
After Grambling scored twice in the bottom half of the third, Eastern took a two-run lead, 4-2, on Will Johnson’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth.
The Tigers tied it in the bottom of the fifth and then took a two-run lead in the sixth when Garrett Smith scored on a wild pitch and Isiah Torres drew a bases loaded walk.
Newcomer A.J. Lewis had two hits in his EKU debut. Freshman Lyndon Weaver went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Botsoe finished 1-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.
Jahmoi Percival had a 3-for-4 day with a run and an RBI for Grambling. Torres drove in two while recording two hits in four at bats.
Five Eastern pitchers combined to walk 10 batters.
