Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Louisiana Tech
Baseball Upended By LaTech, 5-4
3/7/2009 6:41:56 PM | Baseball
The Eagles rallied to pull within a run in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough.
Box Score.
RUSTON, La. – Despite a solid performance on the mound from sophomore Jordan Goldschmidt (Ft. Loramie, Ohio-Ft. Loramie), the Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell just short Saturday afternoon, March 7, at J.C. Love Field, as the Eagles fell, 5-4, to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The loss drops EMU to 3-8 this season, while the Bulldogs improve to 6-3 with the win.
Goldschmidt went seven innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits, while fanning six Bulldogs. Jeb Stefan picked up the win for LaTech, going seven innings and striking out eight Eagles.
Down 5-2 in the top of the ninth, junior Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) belted a two-run double with one out to score redshirt freshman Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) and sophomore Eric Noland (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsilanti) to make it a 5-4 game. However, LaTech's Casey Jones managed to retire senior Kyle Rhoad (
Gulliver went 1-for-5 with two RBI in the loss, while Leonard and Rhoad each finished 2-for-5 at the plate. Leonard has hit safely in 10 out of 11 games so far this season and has reached base safely in every EMU game dating back to game one of last year's Mid-American Conference Tournament.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard first, as a single down the left field line in the top of the fourth by junior Todd Graves (St. Mary's Ohio-St. Mary's Memorial) scored junior Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) to give EMU a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fifth, as a two-run homer by Nick Grunenwald with two outs put LaTech ahead, 2-1. Kevin Winn extended LaTech's lead an inning later, belting a solo home run to left field to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles pulled within a run in the top of the eighth, as an RBI single by Leonard scored Rhoad who singled earlier in the inning, to make it a 3-2 game. However, the Eagles' rally in the top of the ninth would fall just short, as LaTech was able to hold on for the win.
A pair of home runs by the Bulldogs proved to be the difference, as EMU out-hit LaTech, 7-5, in the loss.
The Eagles wrap up their three-game set in
