HALDEMAN, Ky. (Interstat) — Caden Sheridan hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Morehead State built an early eight-run lead, then held off a late Western Illinois rally for a 10-8 Ohio Valley Conference victory Friday night at Allen Field.

The Eagles improved to 26-22 overall and 11-9 in the OVC. The Leathernecks fell to 15-30 and 6-14.

Sheridan finished 1 for 3 with the homer, his 12th of the season, and three RBIs. Liam Bushey led Western Illinois with a 3-for-5 night that included a home run and four RBIs. Kamryn Link added a two-run homer in the ninth and finished 2 for 5.

Morehead State sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning. Davis Germann opened the scoring with a solo homer to center field, his eighth of the year. After a walk and a single, Ian McCubbin delivered an RBI single to left center. Sheridan then crushed a 3-1 pitch to right center, clearing the bases and giving the Eagles a 5-0 lead.

The Eagles added three more runs in the second. Germann doubled and later scored on a throwing error during a failed pickoff attempt. Ryan Olson tripled and scored on McCubbin’s second RBI single of the night. A sacrifice fly by Maddox Kean made it 8-0.

Western Illinois starter Tripure lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs — six earned — on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. Karsten Stotlar, Harrison Dubois, Anthony Steinhoff, Alex Esker and Nathan Rawlings combined to allow two runs over the final 6 2/3 innings while striking out four.

The Leathernecks began their comeback in the fifth. With two outs and nobody on, Morse singled and Connolly singled. Bushey then launched his 14th homer of the season to right field, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

Western Illinois added two more in the seventh. Connolly walked, Bushey doubled him home and later scored on a single by Monge, making it 8-5.

Morehead State answered in the eighth. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Kearns singled to left to score Germann. Griffith followed with a sacrifice fly that brought home Olson, pushing the lead back to 10-5.

The Leathernecks mounted one final charge in the ninth. Bushey doubled, and after a strikeout, Coburn singled to center to score Bushey. Link then homered to right center, cutting the margin to 10-8. But Monge grounded out and McClintock fouled out to end the game.

Callum McGill earned the win for Morehead State, throwing 6 1/3 innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits while striking out five. Caden Costa recorded the final two outs of the seventh and worked a scoreless eighth. The Eagles used five pitchers total.

For Western Illinois, Bushey’s four RBIs gave him 47 for the season. Sheridan’s three RBIs pushed his total to 39.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Morehead State 7, Western Illinois 6, and the ELO system gave the Eagles a 70.20 percent probability to win.