Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 18
Oestrike Stadium
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4
vs
3
Oakland
Photo by: Jeremy Allen
EMU Takes Home Opener in Walk-Off Fashion Over Oakland
3/18/2011 10:10:46 PM | Baseball
Wally Gerbus scored the winning run on a wild pitch as the Eagles defeated Oakland, 4-3, at Oestrike Stadium.
Box Score
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) scampered home from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to secure a, 4-3, victory for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team over Oakland University in its home opener at the Inaugural Oestrike Classic at Oestrike Stadium, Friday, March 18.
Gerbus' ninth inning leadoff double with the game tied at 3-3 keyed a rally that eventually won it for the Eagles. EMU nearly led wire-to-wire as it received seven scoreless innings from senior Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark). The Golden Grizzlies mounted a valiant comeback that saw them tie the game in the top of the ninth before the Eagles stole it back in dramatic fashion.
With the win, EMU improves to 10-6, its best start since 1988 when the Green and White was 12-3-1 through its first 16 games of the season. Meanwhile, Oakland falls to 2-8 on the season with the loss.
Wendzicki pitched seven innings in the no-decision, allowing just four hits while striking out five and walking two in his most effective outing of the season. Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) got the win by pitching the final third of the ninth to move to 2-1 on the season. Jeff Gorecki took the loss to drop to 0-1.
True freshman Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield) got the Eagles on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff solo homerun to the opposite field, his first career long ball with the Eagles.
EMU gave Wendzicki some insurance in the fifth by adding two much-needed scores. Junior Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) started the rally with a one out single up the middle and then stole second to get into scoring position. After a Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) walk, Longo drove a pitch to left field scoring Ohrman, but was thrown out at second after trying to stretch a single into a double. Longo finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and two RBI.
Senior Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) stepped up next and stroked a double to score Russell to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wendzicki continued to baffle opposing hitters over seven innings of work, his longest start this season. He allowed just one extra-base hit in the contest and wouldn't let a single baserunner get past second base.
In the ninth, the Golden Grizzlies finally got to the EMU pitching staff as Tim Combs (Dayton, Ohio-Wayne) and Battistelli let a 3-1 lead slip away. After Combs let runners reach second and third, Head Coach Jay Alexander made the switch for Battistelli. The sophomore worked the count full against right-handed hitter D.J. Jarrad before Jarrad ripped the payoff pitch past Kyle Klein (Grand Rapids, Mich.-West Catholic) at first to drive in the tying runs.
The Eagles would get it back in the bottom half of the frame as Gerbus led the inning off with a double and eventually scored on Brady Adamek's wild pitch on the first pitch he threw in relief to give the Eagles a 4-3 win.
EMU will take on Alma in its second game of the Oestrike Classic. Alma showed a flare for the dramatic in their 4-3, 12-inning loss to Michigan in the opening game of the tournament. The Scots trailed 3-0 before tying it in the ninth to send it to extras. The Wolverines then broke the 3-3 tie in the 12th to take the win.
Michigan and Oakland will play at noon on Saturday before the Eagles and Scots take the field at 3 p.m. Live Stats will be provided for both games through EMUEagles.com.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) scampered home from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to secure a, 4-3, victory for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team over Oakland University in its home opener at the Inaugural Oestrike Classic at Oestrike Stadium, Friday, March 18.
Gerbus' ninth inning leadoff double with the game tied at 3-3 keyed a rally that eventually won it for the Eagles. EMU nearly led wire-to-wire as it received seven scoreless innings from senior Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark). The Golden Grizzlies mounted a valiant comeback that saw them tie the game in the top of the ninth before the Eagles stole it back in dramatic fashion.
With the win, EMU improves to 10-6, its best start since 1988 when the Green and White was 12-3-1 through its first 16 games of the season. Meanwhile, Oakland falls to 2-8 on the season with the loss.
Wendzicki pitched seven innings in the no-decision, allowing just four hits while striking out five and walking two in his most effective outing of the season. Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) got the win by pitching the final third of the ninth to move to 2-1 on the season. Jeff Gorecki took the loss to drop to 0-1.
True freshman Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield) got the Eagles on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff solo homerun to the opposite field, his first career long ball with the Eagles.
EMU gave Wendzicki some insurance in the fifth by adding two much-needed scores. Junior Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) started the rally with a one out single up the middle and then stole second to get into scoring position. After a Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) walk, Longo drove a pitch to left field scoring Ohrman, but was thrown out at second after trying to stretch a single into a double. Longo finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and two RBI.
Senior Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) stepped up next and stroked a double to score Russell to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wendzicki continued to baffle opposing hitters over seven innings of work, his longest start this season. He allowed just one extra-base hit in the contest and wouldn't let a single baserunner get past second base.
In the ninth, the Golden Grizzlies finally got to the EMU pitching staff as Tim Combs (Dayton, Ohio-Wayne) and Battistelli let a 3-1 lead slip away. After Combs let runners reach second and third, Head Coach Jay Alexander made the switch for Battistelli. The sophomore worked the count full against right-handed hitter D.J. Jarrad before Jarrad ripped the payoff pitch past Kyle Klein (Grand Rapids, Mich.-West Catholic) at first to drive in the tying runs.
The Eagles would get it back in the bottom half of the frame as Gerbus led the inning off with a double and eventually scored on Brady Adamek's wild pitch on the first pitch he threw in relief to give the Eagles a 4-3 win.
EMU will take on Alma in its second game of the Oestrike Classic. Alma showed a flare for the dramatic in their 4-3, 12-inning loss to Michigan in the opening game of the tournament. The Scots trailed 3-0 before tying it in the ninth to send it to extras. The Wolverines then broke the 3-3 tie in the 12th to take the win.
Michigan and Oakland will play at noon on Saturday before the Eagles and Scots take the field at 3 p.m. Live Stats will be provided for both games through EMUEagles.com.
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