Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 15
Xenia, Ohio
10 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7
at
10
Wright State
Eagles Drop Two Against Raiders
3/15/2008 10:50:19 PM | Baseball
Eagles wrap up series with Wright State tomorrow, March 16
XENIA, Ohio — After weather forced a change of schedule and venue for this weekend, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team squared off against Wright State University in doubleheader action here today, at the Athletes in Action Complex in Xenia, Ohio. The Raiders came up big in the late innings to sweep today’s games, 10-7 and 5-4.
Leading the way for EMU today was reining Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West), going 6-for-8 with two RBI. Sophomore Kevin Sikora (Youngstown, Ohio-Boardman) pitched seven and one third solid innings, allowing five hits and six runs while striking out three in the no decision in game one while junior Sean Hoffman (Midland, Mich.-Midland) threw five and two thirds innings in game two, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out four for the no decision.
Eastern got on the board early in both games, racing out to 4-0 leads, but could not pull through in the end, falling to the Raiders in the final inning of each contest.
In game one, Bradshaw’s double down the left field line drove in Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley), who had doubled earlier, for the 1-0 lead. Up 1-0 in the top of the third, Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) led off with a double to left center and was driven in by Leonard’s two-bag base hit. EMU added two more in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Leonard scored on a Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) sacrifice fly to center field before a Raider fielding error plated Bradshaw.
The Raiders climbed back in the bottom of the third and fourth, scoring two runs in each inning to take a 4-3 lead. Davis’ two run blast over the center field wall reclaimed the Eagle leads at 6-4 in the top of the fifth frame.
In the WSU eighth, the Raiders again fought back, driving in three runs on four hits to recapture the lead at 7-6. Down a run in the final frame, Davis again came up in the clutch for the Green and White, this time with an RBI single to right field, driving in Bradshaw for his fourth RBI of the game.
In the bottom half of the ninth, Aaron Fields and Jeremy Hamilton each recorded singles to put the Raiders in scoring position. With two out and two on, Justin Parker stepped up to the plate and ended the game with a walk-off homerun over the left field wall, giving WSU their second win this season.
The Raiders could not capitalize on the momentum from their game one win, falling behind 4-0 through the first six innings. Bradshaw’s second double down the left field line of the game drove in Leonard for the early 1-0 lead.
Rhoad increased the Eagle lead to 2-0 with a solo homerun over the left field wall in the fifth inning. EMU added two more in the sixth on back-to-back-to-back doubles by Todd Graves (St.Marys, Ohio-St. Marys), Bradshaw and Davis.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Justin Parker stepped up and tied the game at 4-4 with his opposite field grand slam. The Eagles managed just one hit in the seventh before Leonard grounded into a double play to end the inning. Wright State again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before first-year head coach Jake Boss Jr. brought in Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) in relief. It would be a short appearance for Shoemaker, as he hit R.J. Gundolff with his first pitch, allowing Kyle Mossbarger to walk home for the winning run.
The Eagles and Raiders complete their three game series tomorrow at the Athletes in Action Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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