Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, May 19
Oestrike Stadium
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11
vs
10
Central Michigan
Photo by: Jonathan Knight Photography
Eagles Grab West Division Lead with 14-Inning Win Over CMU
5/20/2011 12:55:32 AM | Baseball
The EMU baseball team recorded an, 11-10, 14-inning victory to take a half-game lead in the MAC West Division.
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A 14-inning affair culminated with a game-winning double by Kyle Peterson (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) to win it for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team as it defeated Central Michigan University, 11-10, to leapfrog the 'Chips and move into sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division. The Eagles need just one win in their final two games to clinch the MAC West title, which would be their first since 2008.
It was a resilient effort on the part of both teams as EMU posted 11 runs on 19 hits and used seven different pitchers en route to the victory. Meanwhile, CMU scored 10 runs on 14 hits and used five pitchers upon suffering the loss. The Eagles overcame a deficit on four separate occasions before finally putting away the Chippewas with a run in the 14th frame.
EMU's Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State) earned the win and moves to 4-0 on the season with an inning and a third in relief while CMU's Ryan Longstreth takes the loss and falls to 1-5.
The top six hitters in the EMU lineup combined for 13 hits. Peterson finished with a 1-for-3 effort including a hit-by-pitch, three walks, an RBI and a run scored from the ninth spot in the order. Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.), who went 4-for-7 with three RBI and a run scored, provided the game-tying two-run double to left center field in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra-innings.
Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) went 2-for-6 at the dish and blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run, no-doubter to left center to lead the Eagles to a three-run fifth inning.
The Eagles improved to 34-18 overall, 16-9 in the MAC while the Chippewas fell to 27-25 (15-9 MAC).
Central Michigan scratched across a run in the first and a run in the third to take, what seemed to be, a commanding lead with starting pitcher Trent Howard on the mound.
The CMU ace was effective early, tallying six strikeouts through the first four innings while striking out the side in the fourth. But the Eagles were content on running up his pitch count by being patient and working the count.
It finally caught up with him in what became a five-run fifth inning that chased the junior from the game. It started with a hit-by-pitch to Peterson followed by a single from Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union). The next batter, Ohrman, then took a 1-0 fastball and scorched his second home run over the left center field wall to give the Eagles a 3-2 advantage. Three more hits in the frame led to two more runs and that would be it for Howard who allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking two over five innings of work.
Meanwhile, EMU's ace left-hander Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) made his final appearance at Oestrike Stadium a positive one, leaving with an eighth inning lead after giving up a leadoff double to William Arnold. The senior allowed four runs (3 earned) on eight hits and struck out two while walking just one over seven-plus innings.
The Chippewas took advantage of Steve Weber (North Royalton, Ohio-North Royalton) and Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) for five runs in the inning to take an 8-6 lead before Tim Combs (Dayton, Ohio-Wayne) came on in relief for his first appearance in nearly a month and retired the side with back-to-back strikeouts. He went on to throw three and two-thirds hitless innings for the Eagles in a time when they needed it the most.
Things looked bleak for the Green and White as CMU's Dietrich Enns came on with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth and got Battiston to strikeout looking to end the threat. Enns came into the game with a 4-1 record and a 2.16 ERA in nine appearances in MAC play, but the Eagles got to him in the ninth.
Ohrman started the inning off with a double that snuck inside the right field line. He advanced to third base after Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, Tyler Hall. With runners on second and third, Rubino stepped up and cranked his fifth double of the season to left center to tie the game at 8-8.
After a Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) walk, Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) laced a line drive to left field, but his counterpart and older brother, Sam, made a shoelace catch to preserve the tie and send it to extras.
Both teams were held scoreless until the 12th inning. CMU regained the lead with a one out RBI groundout by Robbie Harman, scoring Nate Theunissen from third base to give the 'Chips a 9-8 lead.
The resilient Eastern Michigan offense then started with a leadoff single by Russell. The sophomore would advance to third on Enns' failed a pickoff attempt when his throw sailed over the head of first baseman Brendan Emmett. The next batter, Kyle Klein (Grand Rapids, Mich.-West Catholic), then tied it at 9-9 with a single to right field.
In the 13th inning, CMU got another rally going as Emmett singled off Neil Butara (Euclid, Ohio-St. Ignatius) to lead off the frame. After a pair of groundouts advanced him to third base, Jordan Dean singled him home with a line drive to center field. Valente came in with two on and two-out and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but got the next batter Matt Faiman to fly out to center to end the inning.
Enns came back out for the bottom of the 13th inning and struck out Leonard to begin the frame. Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) singled before Rubino flew out for the second out in the frame. Ott then singled to left, but a fielding error allowed Magsig to make it all the way around to score the tying run and make it 10-10.
In the 14th, Valente retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom half, Longstreth spelled Enns after the sophomore had allowed four runs (1 earned) on six hits while striking out seven Eagles over five and a third innings of strong relief.
Longstreth gave up a one out double to Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) before Peterson took a 3-1 fastball and sent the EMU faithful home with a game-winning double to the gap in left center field.
It marked the longest game of the season for the Eagles to date as it clocked in at four hours, 45 minutes. It was also the eighth extra-inning game of the season and put the Eagles at a season-high 16 games above .500.
Both teams will meet in the second game of a three-game set tomorrow, May 20, where EMU's Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) will toe the rubber against CMU's Zach Cooper. A win for the Eagles would clinch their first MAC West Division title since 2008.
Photo Gallery
Re-listen to the broadcast
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – A 14-inning affair culminated with a game-winning double by Kyle Peterson (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) to win it for the Eastern Michigan University baseball team as it defeated Central Michigan University, 11-10, to leapfrog the 'Chips and move into sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division. The Eagles need just one win in their final two games to clinch the MAC West title, which would be their first since 2008.
It was a resilient effort on the part of both teams as EMU posted 11 runs on 19 hits and used seven different pitchers en route to the victory. Meanwhile, CMU scored 10 runs on 14 hits and used five pitchers upon suffering the loss. The Eagles overcame a deficit on four separate occasions before finally putting away the Chippewas with a run in the 14th frame.
EMU's Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State) earned the win and moves to 4-0 on the season with an inning and a third in relief while CMU's Ryan Longstreth takes the loss and falls to 1-5.
The top six hitters in the EMU lineup combined for 13 hits. Peterson finished with a 1-for-3 effort including a hit-by-pitch, three walks, an RBI and a run scored from the ninth spot in the order. Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon-Glendale C.C.), who went 4-for-7 with three RBI and a run scored, provided the game-tying two-run double to left center field in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra-innings.
Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) went 2-for-6 at the dish and blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run, no-doubter to left center to lead the Eagles to a three-run fifth inning.
The Eagles improved to 34-18 overall, 16-9 in the MAC while the Chippewas fell to 27-25 (15-9 MAC).
Central Michigan scratched across a run in the first and a run in the third to take, what seemed to be, a commanding lead with starting pitcher Trent Howard on the mound.
The CMU ace was effective early, tallying six strikeouts through the first four innings while striking out the side in the fourth. But the Eagles were content on running up his pitch count by being patient and working the count.
It finally caught up with him in what became a five-run fifth inning that chased the junior from the game. It started with a hit-by-pitch to Peterson followed by a single from Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union). The next batter, Ohrman, then took a 1-0 fastball and scorched his second home run over the left center field wall to give the Eagles a 3-2 advantage. Three more hits in the frame led to two more runs and that would be it for Howard who allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking two over five innings of work.
Meanwhile, EMU's ace left-hander Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) made his final appearance at Oestrike Stadium a positive one, leaving with an eighth inning lead after giving up a leadoff double to William Arnold. The senior allowed four runs (3 earned) on eight hits and struck out two while walking just one over seven-plus innings.
The Chippewas took advantage of Steve Weber (North Royalton, Ohio-North Royalton) and Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College at Jacksonville) for five runs in the inning to take an 8-6 lead before Tim Combs (Dayton, Ohio-Wayne) came on in relief for his first appearance in nearly a month and retired the side with back-to-back strikeouts. He went on to throw three and two-thirds hitless innings for the Eagles in a time when they needed it the most.
Things looked bleak for the Green and White as CMU's Dietrich Enns came on with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth and got Battiston to strikeout looking to end the threat. Enns came into the game with a 4-1 record and a 2.16 ERA in nine appearances in MAC play, but the Eagles got to him in the ninth.
Ohrman started the inning off with a double that snuck inside the right field line. He advanced to third base after Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, Tyler Hall. With runners on second and third, Rubino stepped up and cranked his fifth double of the season to left center to tie the game at 8-8.
After a Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) walk, Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville) laced a line drive to left field, but his counterpart and older brother, Sam, made a shoelace catch to preserve the tie and send it to extras.
Both teams were held scoreless until the 12th inning. CMU regained the lead with a one out RBI groundout by Robbie Harman, scoring Nate Theunissen from third base to give the 'Chips a 9-8 lead.
The resilient Eastern Michigan offense then started with a leadoff single by Russell. The sophomore would advance to third on Enns' failed a pickoff attempt when his throw sailed over the head of first baseman Brendan Emmett. The next batter, Kyle Klein (Grand Rapids, Mich.-West Catholic), then tied it at 9-9 with a single to right field.
In the 13th inning, CMU got another rally going as Emmett singled off Neil Butara (Euclid, Ohio-St. Ignatius) to lead off the frame. After a pair of groundouts advanced him to third base, Jordan Dean singled him home with a line drive to center field. Valente came in with two on and two-out and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but got the next batter Matt Faiman to fly out to center to end the inning.
Enns came back out for the bottom of the 13th inning and struck out Leonard to begin the frame. Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) singled before Rubino flew out for the second out in the frame. Ott then singled to left, but a fielding error allowed Magsig to make it all the way around to score the tying run and make it 10-10.
In the 14th, Valente retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom half, Longstreth spelled Enns after the sophomore had allowed four runs (1 earned) on six hits while striking out seven Eagles over five and a third innings of strong relief.
Longstreth gave up a one out double to Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) before Peterson took a 3-1 fastball and sent the EMU faithful home with a game-winning double to the gap in left center field.
It marked the longest game of the season for the Eagles to date as it clocked in at four hours, 45 minutes. It was also the eighth extra-inning game of the season and put the Eagles at a season-high 16 games above .500.
Both teams will meet in the second game of a three-game set tomorrow, May 20, where EMU's Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) will toe the rubber against CMU's Zach Cooper. A win for the Eagles would clinch their first MAC West Division title since 2008.
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