Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Baseball Sweeps Northern Illinois
4/30/2006 5:33:21 PM | Baseball
Biddle tallies career-high 10 strikeouts
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Junior pitcher Gorge Biddle struck out a career-high 10 batters to lead the Eastern Michigan University baseball team to a 6-4 victory over visiting Northern Illinois here Sunday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium. Biddle also notched his fifth victory of the season going 8.0 innings allowing only four hits, three earned runs and one walk. With the win, EMU (25-17, 12-6 MAC) completed the three-game sweep of NIU (21-23, 8-9 MAC) and is currently on a six-game winning streak.
EMU was led offensively by senior Isaiah Gainforth and freshman Aaron Powell who both went 2-for-4 from the field with a combined two runs scored and one RBI. Junior Scott Simon led Northern Illinois going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Kevin Wammes also notched his fourth save of the season.
NIU took a 2-0 first inning lead for the third consecutive game off a two-run home down the left field line by Simon. However, EMU responded in the bottom half of the first inning as Josh Ivan and Gainforth led off with back-to-back singles. Jeff Hehr reached on a throwing error by the third baseman allowing Ivan to score and Gainforth to advance to third base. Derek Lehrman filed out to center field to score Gainforth on the sacrifice.
The Huskies regained the lead, 3-2, as Colin Grant reached on a fielding error and later scored with the help of two balks by Biddle.
The Eagles rallied in the bottom of the seventh as Matt Moffett doubled to right center to score Lehrman. Moffett then scored off a Powell single aided by a fielding error by NIU centerfielder Pat Minogue. Two more singles by Gainforth and Hehr scored Powell and Jeff Davis giving EMU a 6-3 lead.
After NIU scored a run in the top of the ninth, Wammes came in with runners on first and third to retire the last Huskie batter and secure the Eagle victory.
EMU will host Wayne State in non-conference action on Tuesday, May 2, at Oestrike Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
