Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, May 14
Toledo, Ohio
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3
at
4
Toledo
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Rockets Even Series with 4-3 Win Over Eagles
5/14/2011 3:52:56 PM | Baseball
The EMU baseball team squandered a one run lead in the eighth; look to win the series on Sunday.
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped the middle game of a three-game Mid-American Conference set to host University of Toledo, 4-3, at Scott Park, Saturday afternoon, May 14. Two runs in the eighth inning made the difference for the Rockets as they pulled even with the Eagles in the MAC West Division standings.
EMU sophomore right-hander Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) pitched seven and one-third effective innings for the Eagles, but it wasn't enough as the Rockets pounded out 11 hits en route to the victory.
Mark Lapikas, James Miglin and Jim Vahalik recorded two hits apiece for the Rockets. Lapikas and Miglin provided run-scoring hits in the eighth to propel the Rockets to the comeback victory. Meanwhile, Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) and Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) had two hits apiece for the Eagles, who left the tying run in scoring position to end the game.
EMU suffered its first loss of the season in 21 occurences when leading after seven innings, dropping to 32-18 overall, 14-9 in the MAC in the process. Toledo improved to 25-24 (14-9 MAC) with the win.
The Rockets were the first to break into the scoring column today, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Dan Sherwood's line drive single to left that scored Mark Lapikas from third base. The EMU defense was on damage control as it saved an additional two runs from crossing the plate.
Third baseman Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) fielded a hard-hit grounder and made an accurate throw home to get Miglin in plenty of time for the first out in the second. One batter later, left fielder Russell charged a Vahlik single and made a perfect throw to catcher Matt Hitt (Fishers, Ind.-Fishers-Kishwaukee C.C.) who tagged out Sherwood looking to score from second.
The Rockets added to its lead when Jeff Cola crushed his first home run of the year over the right field fence to make it 2-0.
Lincoln Rassi had it going early with five shutout innings to start the game, allowing just three hits over that period. But the EMU offense finally came to life in the sixth inning with three runs on three hits.
Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) overtook the league lead in doubles with his 18th to lead off the frame followed by an Ohrman single to right center. Battiston then scored on Zack Leonard's (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit in half and Ohrman scored on Magsig's single to left center to tie the game at 2-2.
The Eagles chased Rassi, who settled for the no-decision, from the game with two outs in the frame after Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.) singled to right. Alex Radon (5-3) came on in relief and allowed the go-ahead RBI single to the first batter he saw, Russell, to make it 3-2.
Battistelli (6-2) settled in after the Cola home run to sit down 15 out of 16 batters before a seventh inning double to Vahalik. He then got the next batter Chris Dudics to line out to second base to end the inning.
After back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the eighth, Battistelli gave way to sophomore Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) with one out and runners at first and second. The first batter Calibuso faced, Lapikas, sent a hot shot that just missed striking the sophomore right-hander and drove in the tying run in Ben Hammer.
The Rockets then took a 4-3 lead when the next hitter, Miglin, singled through the drawn-in infield to score Matt Delewski.
The Toledo closer, Matt Zahel, came on in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Russell. An errant throw advanced him into scoring position, but the senior nailed it down by striking out the side in succession even the series at a game apiece.
Battistelli suffered just his second loss of the season after allowing four runs on nine hits over 7.2 innings pitched. Radon earned the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings and Zahel recorded his 10th save of the season.
Both teams will meet in the rubber match Sunday afternoon, May 15, for a 1 p.m. start. A pair of right-handers will duel as Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) takes the hill for the Eagles against Jared Locke for the Rockets.
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped the middle game of a three-game Mid-American Conference set to host University of Toledo, 4-3, at Scott Park, Saturday afternoon, May 14. Two runs in the eighth inning made the difference for the Rockets as they pulled even with the Eagles in the MAC West Division standings.
EMU sophomore right-hander Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) pitched seven and one-third effective innings for the Eagles, but it wasn't enough as the Rockets pounded out 11 hits en route to the victory.
Mark Lapikas, James Miglin and Jim Vahalik recorded two hits apiece for the Rockets. Lapikas and Miglin provided run-scoring hits in the eighth to propel the Rockets to the comeback victory. Meanwhile, Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) and Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) had two hits apiece for the Eagles, who left the tying run in scoring position to end the game.
EMU suffered its first loss of the season in 21 occurences when leading after seven innings, dropping to 32-18 overall, 14-9 in the MAC in the process. Toledo improved to 25-24 (14-9 MAC) with the win.
The Rockets were the first to break into the scoring column today, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Dan Sherwood's line drive single to left that scored Mark Lapikas from third base. The EMU defense was on damage control as it saved an additional two runs from crossing the plate.
Third baseman Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) fielded a hard-hit grounder and made an accurate throw home to get Miglin in plenty of time for the first out in the second. One batter later, left fielder Russell charged a Vahlik single and made a perfect throw to catcher Matt Hitt (Fishers, Ind.-Fishers-Kishwaukee C.C.) who tagged out Sherwood looking to score from second.
The Rockets added to its lead when Jeff Cola crushed his first home run of the year over the right field fence to make it 2-0.
Lincoln Rassi had it going early with five shutout innings to start the game, allowing just three hits over that period. But the EMU offense finally came to life in the sixth inning with three runs on three hits.
Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) overtook the league lead in doubles with his 18th to lead off the frame followed by an Ohrman single to right center. Battiston then scored on Zack Leonard's (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit in half and Ohrman scored on Magsig's single to left center to tie the game at 2-2.
The Eagles chased Rassi, who settled for the no-decision, from the game with two outs in the frame after Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.) singled to right. Alex Radon (5-3) came on in relief and allowed the go-ahead RBI single to the first batter he saw, Russell, to make it 3-2.
Battistelli (6-2) settled in after the Cola home run to sit down 15 out of 16 batters before a seventh inning double to Vahalik. He then got the next batter Chris Dudics to line out to second base to end the inning.
After back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the eighth, Battistelli gave way to sophomore Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) with one out and runners at first and second. The first batter Calibuso faced, Lapikas, sent a hot shot that just missed striking the sophomore right-hander and drove in the tying run in Ben Hammer.
The Rockets then took a 4-3 lead when the next hitter, Miglin, singled through the drawn-in infield to score Matt Delewski.
The Toledo closer, Matt Zahel, came on in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Russell. An errant throw advanced him into scoring position, but the senior nailed it down by striking out the side in succession even the series at a game apiece.
Battistelli suffered just his second loss of the season after allowing four runs on nine hits over 7.2 innings pitched. Radon earned the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings and Zahel recorded his 10th save of the season.
Both teams will meet in the rubber match Sunday afternoon, May 15, for a 1 p.m. start. A pair of right-handers will duel as Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) takes the hill for the Eagles against Jared Locke for the Rockets.
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