Baseball Takes Doubleheader against Ohio

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team won both games of a doubleheader, 1-0 and 5-4 to sweep the three-game weekend series against Ohio University in Mid-American-conference action here Saturday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium. With the pair of victories, EMU (12-14, 9-1 MAC) moved into first place in the MAC West Division standings. Eastern’s 9-1 MAC record is the best start to the conference season since 1982 when the Eagles started 9-1-1.

For the second straight day pitching was the story as neither team was able get any offense early in game one. EMU starter George Biddle (3-3) recorded the second straight complete game shutout by an Eagle pitcher allowing seven scattered hits and striking out six in the Eagles’ 1-0 win. The complete game shutout was the second of Biddle’s career since he went the distance in EMU’s 10-0 victory over Buffalo last season (March 31, 2006). Kevin Mementowski (2-1) had a solid game for the Bobcats, going 8.1 innings allowing only five hits while notching four strikeouts.

The Bobcats scored its first runs of the series in game two taking it into extra innings. However it was not enough as EMU was able to win again in dramatic fashion. Jeff Hehr led off the bottom of the eleventh with a bunt single and advanced to second on a balk by pitcher OU Matt Smith. A sac bunt by Lehrman advanced Hehr to third with one out. Smith intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases. Steve Bradshaw connected on the first pitch and beat out the throw that would have led to an inning ending double-play allowing Hehr to cross the plate for a 5-4 EMU 11 inning victory. Matt Shoemaker (1-2) pitched four innings of scoreless relief to notch his first win of the season.

EMU saved its offense until the ninth inning in game one. After Derek Lehrman singled up the middle to start the inning, a sac bunt by Patrick Dean advanced Lehrman to second. Following the sacrifice Ohio brought in Andrew Shisila to relieve Mementowski. Shisila walked pinch hitter Kyle Rhoad before Brian Blackburn singled to left field. The ball was mishandled by Ohio left fielder Jeremie Rehak which allowed Lehrman to score the winning run.

Blackburn was the only EMU player to record multiple hits in game one going 2-for-4 with two singles. Four other Eagles each recorded one hit each. Willie Walker led the Bobcat offense going 2-for-3 with two singles.

In game two, EMU struck first in the second inning. After Dean reached on an error by first baseman Jerod Yakubik, Rhoad connected on an RBI double to left-center giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles added a run in the bottom of the third as Hehr reached on a throwing error by Brandon Besl. Two batters later, Blackburn hit a RBI single to give EMU a 2-0 lead. Back-to-back RBI singles by Rhoad and Trumaine Riley broke the game open and gave the Eagles a 4-0 cushion.

Ohio’s Marc Krauss’ two-out RBI single cut the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning.

The Bobcats continued to close the gap in top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Bryant Witt’s single to left field was misplayed allowing to two runs to scored cutting the lead to 4-3.

EMU got into another jam in the top of the eighth after the first two runners reached base. Shoemaker came into the game and forced Chris Klimko to hit into a double play. Zach Hartle followed with a ground ball back to the mound that was misplayed and allowed Ohio to tie the game at 4-4.

Rhoad led the Eagle offense batting 3-for-4 with two RBI. Riley and Blackburn each contributed two hits to the winning effort.

Bryant Witt was the top offensive performer for Ohio going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Krauss also added a RBI for the Bobcats.

EMU heads down the road for a non-conference rematch against the University of Michigan on Wednesday, April 18. First pitch of the seven inning doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. with both games being televised on Comcast Local (Channel 8).

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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