Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 19
Oestrike Stadium
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7
vs
6
Alma College
Photo by: Jeremy Allen
Wendzicki's Bat Sends Eagles Home with Fourth Straight Win
3/19/2011 8:12:26 PM | Baseball
Senior Robert Wendzicki came through with a pinch hit game-winning single in the 10th to beat Alma, 7-6.
Box Score
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A walk-off single by Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) gave the Eastern Michigan University baseball team its fourth straight victory and second in a row at home as it defeated Alma College, 7-6, in 10 innings on day two of the 2011 Ron Oestrike Classic at Oestrike Stadium, Saturday, March 19.
Wendzicki received most of the day off after pitching seven scoreless innings in the Eagles' 4-3 win over Oakland the night before. But with two on and two out in the bottom of the 10th inning, his name was called to pinch hit and he came through with a walk-off RBI single through the right side to send the EMU faithful home victorious.
The Eagles improve to 11-6 overall with the win while the Scots fall to 1-8 with the loss.
Junior Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) turned in a monster day at the plate by going 5-for-5 in the leadoff spot with a pair of triples and trio of singles to go along with an RBI and three runs scored.
He helped the Eagles take a 2-0 lead with a one out triple to deep left center in the second inning, which set up Brent Ohrman's (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) run-scoring single up the middle.
After firing four scoreless innings for the Eagles, EMU starter Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State) stood tall on the mound, but his defense did not. Alma forced back-to-back miscues against the right-hander on sacrifice bunt attempts to put base runners at each station. The next batter, Matt Stephens, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but a run scored to make it 2-1. The Scots would pull even after Ryan Henris singled up the middle to drive in Matthew Cresswell.
EMU would come right back in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 3-2. After Battiston singled and stole second to get into scoring position, Ohrman singled through the left side to drive him in.
Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale CC) added an insurance run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to score Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield), who doubled to lead off the inning.
Defensive miscues plagued the Eagles in the seventh inning when three errors led to four Alma runs, only two of which were earned, and what was a two-run lead became a two-run, 6-4, deficit.
It would become a one run affair after Ohrman's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning cut the Alma lead to 6-5.
The Scots then sent in Jay Sackett to pitch in relief of starter Sam Shipman, who allowed five runs (4 earned) on 10 hits in seven innings of work. Sackett proved effective in his first inning of work as he retired the side in the eighth to maintain his team's one run lead.
EMU's Jordan Glover (Toronto, Ont.-Ontario Schools) then answered back with a perfect ninth amidst his second full inning of duty, which built momentum for another Eagle comeback.
Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing CC) pinch hit to lead off the ninth inning for the Eagles and drove a single to left center to get the inning started and advanced to second base on a fielding error by the center fielder. Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) successfully advanced Magsig to third with a sacrifice bunt and that bring up Battiston, who was perfect at the plate, with a chance to tie the game.
On a 1-0 count, Battiston popped it up right behind home plate for an easy play for the catcher, but the ball popped out of the glove of the Alma backstop to keep the at-bat alive. The junior made the Scots pay as he beat out an infield single, hitting it in a difficult spot for the third baseman to make a play at home or first as he was forced to hold onto it, and Magsig scored to tie the game at 6-6.
Glover allowed a one out double to Adam Rezmer in the 10th, but retired the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed. The right-hander went three and 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit in the win.
Wendzicki, who was left with a no decision the night before, helped Glover earn the win as he singled through the right side to bring in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
Alma, which has played back-to-back extra-inning games and fallen by a single run to the likes of Michigan and Eastern Michigan the first two days of the tournament, has not looked like a typical NCAA Division III opponent as the Scots have hung tough against quality Division I competition. They will look to salvage a win as they take on Oakland in their final game of the Oestrike Classic on Sunday at 11 a.m.
EMU and Michigan will battle for the Oestrike Classic crown as they face off in the tournament finale at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A walk-off single by Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) gave the Eastern Michigan University baseball team its fourth straight victory and second in a row at home as it defeated Alma College, 7-6, in 10 innings on day two of the 2011 Ron Oestrike Classic at Oestrike Stadium, Saturday, March 19.
Wendzicki received most of the day off after pitching seven scoreless innings in the Eagles' 4-3 win over Oakland the night before. But with two on and two out in the bottom of the 10th inning, his name was called to pinch hit and he came through with a walk-off RBI single through the right side to send the EMU faithful home victorious.
The Eagles improve to 11-6 overall with the win while the Scots fall to 1-8 with the loss.
Junior Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) turned in a monster day at the plate by going 5-for-5 in the leadoff spot with a pair of triples and trio of singles to go along with an RBI and three runs scored.
He helped the Eagles take a 2-0 lead with a one out triple to deep left center in the second inning, which set up Brent Ohrman's (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) run-scoring single up the middle.
After firing four scoreless innings for the Eagles, EMU starter Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State) stood tall on the mound, but his defense did not. Alma forced back-to-back miscues against the right-hander on sacrifice bunt attempts to put base runners at each station. The next batter, Matt Stephens, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but a run scored to make it 2-1. The Scots would pull even after Ryan Henris singled up the middle to drive in Matthew Cresswell.
EMU would come right back in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 3-2. After Battiston singled and stole second to get into scoring position, Ohrman singled through the left side to drive him in.
Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale CC) added an insurance run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to score Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield), who doubled to lead off the inning.
Defensive miscues plagued the Eagles in the seventh inning when three errors led to four Alma runs, only two of which were earned, and what was a two-run lead became a two-run, 6-4, deficit.
It would become a one run affair after Ohrman's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning cut the Alma lead to 6-5.
The Scots then sent in Jay Sackett to pitch in relief of starter Sam Shipman, who allowed five runs (4 earned) on 10 hits in seven innings of work. Sackett proved effective in his first inning of work as he retired the side in the eighth to maintain his team's one run lead.
EMU's Jordan Glover (Toronto, Ont.-Ontario Schools) then answered back with a perfect ninth amidst his second full inning of duty, which built momentum for another Eagle comeback.
Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing CC) pinch hit to lead off the ninth inning for the Eagles and drove a single to left center to get the inning started and advanced to second base on a fielding error by the center fielder. Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) successfully advanced Magsig to third with a sacrifice bunt and that bring up Battiston, who was perfect at the plate, with a chance to tie the game.
On a 1-0 count, Battiston popped it up right behind home plate for an easy play for the catcher, but the ball popped out of the glove of the Alma backstop to keep the at-bat alive. The junior made the Scots pay as he beat out an infield single, hitting it in a difficult spot for the third baseman to make a play at home or first as he was forced to hold onto it, and Magsig scored to tie the game at 6-6.
Glover allowed a one out double to Adam Rezmer in the 10th, but retired the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed. The right-hander went three and 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit in the win.
Wendzicki, who was left with a no decision the night before, helped Glover earn the win as he singled through the right side to bring in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.
Alma, which has played back-to-back extra-inning games and fallen by a single run to the likes of Michigan and Eastern Michigan the first two days of the tournament, has not looked like a typical NCAA Division III opponent as the Scots have hung tough against quality Division I competition. They will look to salvage a win as they take on Oakland in their final game of the Oestrike Classic on Sunday at 11 a.m.
EMU and Michigan will battle for the Oestrike Classic crown as they face off in the tournament finale at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Inside the Ride Episode 1: Celia Murkowski
Wednesday, September 17
Drew Beckner's Comments After BGSU Win in MAC Tournament
Friday, May 23
Robbie Britt's Comments After MAC Tournament Win over BGSU
Friday, May 23
EMU Stuns BGSU for First Postseason Win Since 2017
Friday, May 23