Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, April 20
Ann Arbor, Mich.
6:05 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3
at
1
Michigan
Tucker Rubino
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Baseball Takes Season Series with 3-1 Win Over Michigan
4/20/2011 10:11:35 PM | Baseball
The EMU baseball team defeated Michigan for the second time this season with a dramatic ninth inning comeback.
Box score
Re-listen to the broadcast
Photo Gallery.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A three-run ninth inning keyed an impressive come-from-behind victory for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team, which defeated the University of Michigan on the road, 3-1, at the Wilpon Complex, today, April 20.
With the bases loaded and one out in a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning, Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.) put a ball in play that could have ended the game as the Wolverines failed to turn a double play. In the process, two runs scored to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead, one they would not relinquish as Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
The Eagles (21-15) take the season series from the Wolverines (11-24), winning two out of three meetings in 2011.
It was a low-scoring affair that featured 10 pitchers combined as each squad looked to get several members of their respective staffs some work in the mid-week contest. The Eagles tossed six pitchers and Calibuso (1-0) picked up his first win of the season. Michigan's Alex Lakatos (2-2), one of four hurlers for the Wolverines, suffered the hard-luck loss.
Five Eagles tallied one hit apiece while Michigan's Michael O'Neill was the lone hitter with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.
O'Neill reached on a single to lead off the Michigan first inning and proceeded to steal his 18th and 19th bases of the season to give the Wolverines an early scoring chance with just one out gone.
Sophomore Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State), looking for his second victory of the season over U-M, rose to the challenge by striking out Coley Crank before inducing Alex Lakatos into the inning ending groundout to short.
Through the first three innings, the Eagles did not record a hit, but stranded two runners at third base while Valente surrendered just two hits before exiting in a scoreless game.
Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) came on for EMU in the fourth and retired the side in order and needed just six pitches to do so.
Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) made his second start of the season and tallied the Eagles' first hit of the contest with two outs in the fourth. He finished the day 1-for-3 from the nine-hole.
A fifth inning leadoff double by Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio- Milton Union) went to waste and the Eagles once again left a runner stranded at third.
The Wolverines broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning as Crank laced a two-out triple to center, scoring O'Neill from second base to make it 1-0. Head Coach Jay Alexander then brought in senior Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) from the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.
Down a run in the ninth inning, Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) led off with an infield single to third base. Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) advanced him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) walked and Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) singled through the right side to load the bases for Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark).
Wendzicki took a 1-1 offering from Lakatos and put it through the same hole Leonard carved for him on the right side to bring Ohrman in from third to tie the game. With the bases still loaded, Rubino chopped one over the pitcher's head in what looked to be an inning-ending double play chance, but the relay from the shortstop hit the dirt and Rubino was safe, allowing two runs to score in the process and giving EMU a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Calibuso came on for his second inning of work and struck out the side looking to give the Eagles a 2-1 season series victory over the Wolverines.
Both teams combined for just four runs on 11 hits and no errors in the contest.
The Eagles will hop back into Mid-American Conference play this weekend as they take on West Division foe Western Michigan on the road in Kalamazoo. Game one on Friday is slated for 3 p.m.
Re-listen to the broadcast
Photo Gallery.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A three-run ninth inning keyed an impressive come-from-behind victory for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team, which defeated the University of Michigan on the road, 3-1, at the Wilpon Complex, today, April 20.
With the bases loaded and one out in a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning, Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.) put a ball in play that could have ended the game as the Wolverines failed to turn a double play. In the process, two runs scored to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead, one they would not relinquish as Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
The Eagles (21-15) take the season series from the Wolverines (11-24), winning two out of three meetings in 2011.
It was a low-scoring affair that featured 10 pitchers combined as each squad looked to get several members of their respective staffs some work in the mid-week contest. The Eagles tossed six pitchers and Calibuso (1-0) picked up his first win of the season. Michigan's Alex Lakatos (2-2), one of four hurlers for the Wolverines, suffered the hard-luck loss.
Five Eagles tallied one hit apiece while Michigan's Michael O'Neill was the lone hitter with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.
O'Neill reached on a single to lead off the Michigan first inning and proceeded to steal his 18th and 19th bases of the season to give the Wolverines an early scoring chance with just one out gone.
Sophomore Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State), looking for his second victory of the season over U-M, rose to the challenge by striking out Coley Crank before inducing Alex Lakatos into the inning ending groundout to short.
Through the first three innings, the Eagles did not record a hit, but stranded two runners at third base while Valente surrendered just two hits before exiting in a scoreless game.
Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) came on for EMU in the fourth and retired the side in order and needed just six pitches to do so.
Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) made his second start of the season and tallied the Eagles' first hit of the contest with two outs in the fourth. He finished the day 1-for-3 from the nine-hole.
A fifth inning leadoff double by Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio- Milton Union) went to waste and the Eagles once again left a runner stranded at third.
The Wolverines broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning as Crank laced a two-out triple to center, scoring O'Neill from second base to make it 1-0. Head Coach Jay Alexander then brought in senior Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) from the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.
Down a run in the ninth inning, Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) led off with an infield single to third base. Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) advanced him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) walked and Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) singled through the right side to load the bases for Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark).
Wendzicki took a 1-1 offering from Lakatos and put it through the same hole Leonard carved for him on the right side to bring Ohrman in from third to tie the game. With the bases still loaded, Rubino chopped one over the pitcher's head in what looked to be an inning-ending double play chance, but the relay from the shortstop hit the dirt and Rubino was safe, allowing two runs to score in the process and giving EMU a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Calibuso came on for his second inning of work and struck out the side looking to give the Eagles a 2-1 season series victory over the Wolverines.
Both teams combined for just four runs on 11 hits and no errors in the contest.
The Eagles will hop back into Mid-American Conference play this weekend as they take on West Division foe Western Michigan on the road in Kalamazoo. Game one on Friday is slated for 3 p.m.
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