Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Eagles Rally Late for 13-11 Win Over Huskies
5/9/2010 6:40:28 PM | Baseball
EMU posts eight runs in the top of the ninth to win the series over NIU
Box score
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – A pinch hit three-run double by true freshman Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) in an eight-run top of the ninth inning lifted the Eastern Michigan University baseball team to a 13-11 victory over the Northern Illinois University Huskies Sunday afternoon, May 9, at Ralph McKinzie Field.
EMU improves to 24-24 overall and 13-8 in the Mid-American Conference with the win, while NIU drops to 19-27 (9-12 MAC) with the loss.
Facing a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning, the Eagles strung together six hits, including a three-run pinch hit double by Russell, to plate eight runs and take a 13-8 advantage.
The Huskies plated three runs in the bottom half of the inning to pull within two, but freshman right-hander Taylor Dimmerling (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg) held the Huskies in check to earn the save and secure the series victory for EMU.
Junior transfer Bo Kinder (Wapella, Ill.-Clinton Community-Kaskaskia C.C.) had an outstanding performance at the plate in the victory, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. In three games this weekend, Kinder batted .538 (7-for-13) with five runs scored and three RBI.
Senior Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and a game-high five RBI, while senior Todd Graves (St. Marys, Ohio-St. Marys Memorial) finished with three hits.
Down 7-0 in the top of the seventh, the Eagles mounted a two-out rally to make it a three-run game, as a three-run home run by Marshall and an RBI single by junior Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) following a triple by Kinder made it a 7-4 game.
After the Huskies scored one in the bottom of the seventh to make it an 8-4 game, the Eagles again made it a three-run game, as an RBI single to right field by Kinder plated senior Aaron Crooks (Toledo, Ohio-Ottawa Hills) to make it an 8-5 game.
But the Eagles proved to be resilient yet again, as Russell's three-run double in the top of the ninth gave EMU its first lead of the game, 9-8. But the Eastern Michigan offense was not finished in the ninth, tacking on four more runs to take a 13-8 lead.
The Huskies made it interesting with two outs in the ninth, as a three-run blast by Jordin Hood following an RBI double by Reynolds made it a 13-11 game. But Dimmerling managed to come in the game in relief of junior Tim Combs (Dayton, Ohio-Wayne) to shut down the NIU offense and earn the save and secure the win for EMU.
The Eagles are back in action Wednesday, May 12, when they host the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies at 6:05 p.m. at Oestrike Stadium.
