Rhoad, Ivan Key 13-12 Comeback Win for Eagles

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio. — For the second straight game the Eastern Michigan University and Ohio University baseball teams needed extra innings to settle their Mid-American Conference contest. Down 12-9 in the top of the ninth, junior Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) tied the game with a three-run homer that barley made it over the right-field fence, sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, pinch runner Aaron Crooks (Toledo, Ohio-Ottawa Hills) scored from first on a double to right center by senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), putting the Eagles out front for good, 13-12.

EMU improves to 10-21, 7-1 MAC on the year while Ohio falls to 15-16, 7-4 MAC.

Earning the win for EMU was senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena), throwing an inning and two-thirds, not allowing a hit and striking out one in his third win on the year. Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) registered his fourth save of the season, coming on in the 10th to allow just one hit.

The Eagles took the early 1-0 lead when Rhoad scored on a Zach Elmer wild pitch. Ohio quickly evened the score in the bottom of the second when Gauntlett Eldemire sent a Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) pitch over the center field wall for his second home run of the year.

The Bobcats offense came alive in the third, scoring five runs on four hits, highlighted by a Robert Maddox three-run homer to right-field. After three full innings of play, Ohio held a 6-1 advantage over the Green and White.

EMU rallied in the top half of the fifth, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 6-4. Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) led the inning off with a single through the right side before Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) drew a walk off Elmer. Bradshaw’s sacrifice fly to left-field scored Gulliver before Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) sent an Elmer pitch over the center field wall for his fourth home run of the season, rounding out the scoring for the Eagles in the fifth.

Ohio answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the fifth, increasing its lead to 9-4 before the Green and White put together a seventh inning rally, scoring five runs to knot the game at 9-9. Powell scored on an error by centerfielder Matt Stiffler to start the rally which produced five walks by Ohio pitchers.

The Bobcats posted a three-run eighth inning to take a 12-9 lead and were one out away from the win before Rhoad’s home run knotted the game at 12-12.

In the 10th, Crooks pinch ran for Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview), who had reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Ivan’s double, securing the Eagles’ seventh conference win of the year.

EMU and Ohio will conclude their three-game series tomorrow, April 12, at Bob Wren Stadium. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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