Eagles Complete Series Sweep with 6-5 Win

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — True freshman Zack Leonard’s (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) fourth home run of the season could not have come at a better time. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Leonard launched a 1-0 pitch from Tim Mowry over the left-field wall to propel the Eagles to the 6-5 win. Sophomore Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) closed the game out in the ninth, earning his seventh save of the season.

With the win, the Eagles complete their second series-sweep of a Mid-American Conference opponent and move to 13-24, 10-2 MAC on the year. Western Michigan falls to 20-13-1, 5-7 MAC.

True freshman Jake Stapf (Hamilton, Ohio-Stephen T. Badin) got the starting nod in the series finale, scattering 12 hits and four earned runs while recording three strikeouts in eight innings of work. Wendzicki’s seventh save of the season moves him into a third place tie on the single-season save list and a seventh place tie on the career list.

Carrying the Eagles from the plate today was senior Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) and Leonard. Davis posted a 3-for-4 day with two runs scored while Leonard went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.

EMU started the scoring early, posting three runs on two hits in the bottom of the second to take the 3-0 lead. Davis and Leonard each singled while senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) walked to load the bases with no outs. Senior Mike Sacha (Farmington Hills, Mich.-St. Clair C.C.) drew an RBI walk to plate the first run of the day. Jim Gulliver’s (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) sacrifice fly to center field allowed Ivan to score, making it 2-0. A balk by Bronco pitcher Brian Stroud closed out the scoring at 3-0.

After pitching five scoreless innings, Stapf (1-2) ran into trouble in the top of the sixth frame. With one on and one out, Joe Sheets homered to left field to cut the deficit to 3-2. Back-to-back singles by Matthew Abro and Max Kelmigian and a throwing error on Gulliver allowed WMU to tie the game at three. Pedro Dager put the Broncos in front for the first time with his single to center field, scoring Kelmigian.

A day after Davis and fellow senior Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) paved the way for a 12-9 come-from-behind victory, Leonard picked up the slack with his three-run jack off of Tim Mowry, giving the Eagles their second series sweep of the season here at Oestrike Stadium.

EMU will be in action next, April 23, here at Oestrike Stadium as they welcome the Olivet College Comets. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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