Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Toledo
Baseball Rallies for 5-4 Victory Over Toledo
5/12/2007 8:19:33 PM | Baseball
Eagles overcome errors with five run sixth inning
Box Score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team defeated the University of Toledo, 5-4, in Mid-American Conference action Saturday night at Oestrike Stadium. The victory extends the Eagles’ conference winning streak to four games, along with keeping EMU ahead of Central Michigan in the race for the MAC West Division championship.
Eastern Michigan (26-21, 18-3 MAC) used a five run sixth inning to erase a four run Toledo (23-24, 11-13 MAC) lead. After three Eagle errors led to four unearned runs for the Rockets, Eastern starter George Biddle (6-4) settled in and shut out the Toledo offense. Biddle allowed four runs on 11 hits while striking out four over 7.1 innings of work. Junior Jeff Davis and junior Matt Shoemaker combined for 1.2 innings of hitless relief, with Shoemaker picking up his 11th save of the season.
Toledo starter Kyle Rawlings shut down the Eagle offense over the first five innings, but could not escape the sixth. He allowed four hits on five hits in 5.1 innings of work. Greg Gompf (1-2) picked up the loss as he allowed one run on one hit over 2.2 innings of relief work.
The Eagles were led offensively by Senior Brian Blackburn. Blackburn went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Sophomore Kyle Rhoad added an RBI triple, while junior Jeff Hehr contributed with an RBI sacrifice fly in the winning effort.
Jake Swint led the Rockets on offense batting 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Josh Johnson and Tim Krofcheck also had a multi-hit day for Toledo.
The Rockets struck in the top of the first courtesy of an error by Hehr. The two-out error allowed Swint to score from second to give Toledo an early 1-0 lead. Toledo added two more unearned runs in the top of the second. After Biddle struck out the first two Rocket batters, Sean Boley reached base on an error by senior Derek Lehrman. After back-to-back singles loaded the bases Swint singled through the right side scoring two and giving the Rockets a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Rockets increased their lead as they capitalized on the third Eagle error of the day. After Johnson reached base with a two-out double Josh Colliver reached on an error by senior Patrick Dean. Johnson was able to score on the play to give Toledo a 4-0 lead.
A big sixth inning gave Eastern their first lead of the day. After Steve Bradshaw got the inning started with a lead off single, Rhode hit a RBI triple to left-center to cut the score to 4-1. A sacrifice fly by Hehr allowed Rhode to score from third to cut the deficit to two, 4-2. After a double by Lehrman, Dean reached on an error by Scott Boley. A two RBI single by Blackburn allowed both runners to score to tie the game 4-4. Junior Aaron Powell then reached on a fielders choice as Blackburn charged home from second, beating the throw and giving the Eagles a 5-4 lead.
EMU pitchers then shut down the Rockets over the final three innings to hold on for a 5-4 victory.
The Eagles return to the Oestrike Stadium field tomorrow for the finale of the three-game series against the visiting Rockets. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Prior to the game the Eagles will hold their Senior Day ceremony. There will be an on-field presentation as the seniors will be presented with their senior gifts by head coach Roger Coryell.
