Graves Goes Yard, Lifts Eagles to 15-13 Win

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio. — For the third time this season the Eastern Michigan University baseball team needed 11 innings to pull out the win against a Mid-American Conference foe. The Eagles put together a four run 11th inning, powered behind a towering three-run homer by Todd Graves (St. Mary’s, Ohio-St. Mary’s) to score the 15-13 win over East Division leading Ohio University in a marathon game which lasted over four hours here at Robert Wren Stadium.

The Eagles move to 9-21, 6-1 MAC while Ohio falls to 15-15, 7-3 MAC overall. Four Green and White players had multi-hit performances at the plate, led by Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) who went 4-for-6 with three RBI, including a three-run homer in the fifth that tied the game at 5-5. Senior Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) and junior Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Fostoria) each collected three hits on the day.

Junior Sean Hoffman (Midland, Mich.-Midland) went five and two-thirds innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs while striking out five in the no decision. Registering the win was Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark), tossing four and a third innings, striking out four while allowing just three hits and two earned runs.

The Eagles loaded the bases in the top half of the first with Rhoad and Bradshaw reaching on singles and designated hitter Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) reaching on a fielder’s choice. Rhoad scored on Aaron Marshall’s (Mason, Mich.-Mason) groundout to the pitcher before Powell made it 2-0, crossing the plate after a Chris Rigo wild pitch.

The Bobcats answered in the bottom half of the first, scoring three runs on three hits to take the 3-2 lead. Two Hoffman walks put Ohio in scoring position to start the inning. Brandon Besl’s sacrifice fly drove in Matt Stiffler for the first run before Robert Maddox’s groundout to second platted Jeremie Rehak. Chris Klimko’s single up the middle drove in Marc Krauss, rounding out the scoring for Ohio in the first.

After a three-up three-down second for the Eagles, Ohio increased its lead to 5-2 off solo home runs by Stiffler and Krauss.

The EMU bats came alive in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs to take a 7-5 lead. After Marshall walked and freshman Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) was hit by a pitch, Ivan sent a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall to knot the game at 5-5. A Besl error on a Powell grounder to third with two outs allowed Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) and Mike Boyd (Huntington Woods, Mich.-Berkley) to score, putting the Green and White on top 7-5.

After two scoreless innings by both teams, senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena) was brought in relief and quickly found himself in trouble. After walking Krauss, Besl launched the first pitch over the left-field wall for his third home run of the year and first grand slam, giving the Bobcats a 9-7 lead.

The Eagles put up a four run seventh to regain the lead at 11-9, led by Bradshaw’s two run double to left-field and Davis’ double to center. The lead was short lived as the Bobcats struck in the bottom half of the seventh, tying the game at 11-11 off a Jason Selhorst single to deep left-field.

EMU and Ohio traded scoreless innings until the 11th when Graves put the Eagles ahead for good. Wendzicki allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning, but froze Stiffler on a called strike to end the game.

The Eagles and Bobcats continue action tomorrow here in Athens, Ohio in the second of their three-game series. First pitch tomorrow at Robert Wren Stadium is slated for 3 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos