Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Michigan
Baseball Upends Michigan, 9-3
4/19/2006 9:40:03 PM | Baseball
Late rally sparks Eagles past Wolverines for the first time in two years
YPSILANTI, Mich. — For the first time since the 2004 season, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team defeated the University of Michigan by a score of 9-3 here Wednesday night at Oestrike Stadium. An eight-run sixth inning capped off with home runs by sophomore Jeff Hehr and junior Derek Lehrman sparked the Eagles’ fourth consecutive victory.
Lehrman paced EMU (18-16, 7-5 MAC) going 1-for-3 with one run scored and a team high three RBI courtesy of his sixth inning blast. In addition, Hehr went 1-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI while notching his second home run of the year. Matt Dillard (2-2) picked up his second win of the season.
Michigan (20-13, 8-4 Big Ten) was led by senior Jeff Kunkel who went 2-for-4 with two RBI while senior Drew Taylor picked up the loss on the mound.
Michigan got on the board first in the top of the second inning as Kunkel doubled to center field to score two runs giving the Wolverines an early 2-0 lead. U of M then increased its lead to 3-0 as an Eagle error plated another run in the top of the fourth inning.
The Wolverine lead did not last for long as EMU rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring eight runs on six hits with the line up batting through. Jeff Davis ignited the Eagles with a single to right field to score Josh Ivan. Hehr followed with a home run to plate Davis. Mike Markey kept things going with a double down the right field line. Eric Pelot came in to pinch run for Markey and Isaiah Gainforth reached on fielder’s choice. Steve Bradshaw pinch hit for Kyle Road and doubled to left field scoring Pelot. Trumaine Riley grounded to the shortstop to plate Gainforth. Matt Moffett was then hit by a pitch and Lehrman followed with a three-run home run down the left field line to plate Moffett and Bradshaw.
The Eagles added another run the bottom of the seventh as Moffett singled to right field to score Riley and increase the lead to 9-3.
Seniors Tim Gray and Will Stewardson and freshman Kevin Wammes all saw action from the mound as the trio closed the door on Michigan over the final three innings to seal the 9-3 victory.
EMU returns to MAC action to continue its 11 game home stand with a weekend series against Ball Sate. The first game scheduled on Friday, April 21, at 6 p.m. and will be televised on Comcast Local.
