Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 6
Oestrike Stadium
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3
vs
4
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Jeremy Allen
NIU Pushes Across a Run in the Ninth to Down EMU, 4-3
5/6/2011 9:11:00 PM | Baseball
The nation's longest winning streak snapped at 11 games
Box score.
Postgame Interview.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Alex Jones's RBI double in the ninth inning proved to be the difference, as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team saw its nation's longest winning streak snapped with a 4-3 setback to Northern Illinois University Friday, May 6, in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Oestrike Stadium.
Both starting pitchers allowed early runs before settling into a groove. Then after walking the leadoff hitter in the ninth and and with his pitch count at 125, Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) was lifted in favor on closer Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College). A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second, then Jones doubled to left to drive in Jamison Wells to give NIU the 4-3 edge.
EMU tried to answer in the bottom of the inning, but stranded a runner at third to end the contest.
For Eastern Michigan, which drops to 30-16 (12-7 MAC) on the year, Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) and Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) both had two hits in three plate appearances, and Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) drove in pair runs for the Eagles. Wendzicki suffered his fifth loss of the year, going 8.0 innings, allowing 12 hits and four runs while striking out eight .
Jeff Zimmerman had a pair of solo home runs for Northern Illinois, which moved to 23-21 (11-8 MAC). Jones also drove in a pair, including the deciding run in the ninth. Zach Oates took the win for the Cardinal and Black, allowing three runs in 8.0 innings of work.
The Huskies quickly jumped on the board in the first inning, as Jones singled home Wells to take the 1-0 lead just three batters into the contest.
However, EMU promptly answered in its turn at bat when Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) opened with a leadoff triple to right field and scored three pitches later on an Ohrman ground out to knot the score at 1-all.
Zimmerman swung at the first pitch he saw from Wendzicki to open the second inning, driving the ball over the 370-foot sign in left center field for his sixth home run of the season to give NIU the lead back at 2-1.
Eastern Michigan loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning with two away in the frame, but Oates forced Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) to fly out to center to escape the jam. NIU threaten in their portion of the fourth stanza by loading the bases, but Wendzicki worked his way through getting Jones to strike out swinging to keep the deficit at just a run.
Zimmerman cracked his second home run of the night on the first pitch he saw in the fifth inning, upping the Huskies' edge to 3-1.
After struggling offensively through the first four innings of play, Eastern loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single in the bottom of the fifth. With no outs showing on the scoreboard, Ohrman reached on a fielders choice that allowed Matt Hitt (Fishers, Ind.-Fishers-Kishwaukee College) to come home and score. Leonard then flew out to deep center, allowing Ott to tag up at third and again tie the contest at 3-3.
With Oates' pitch count above 100, the Eagles bats continued to find their groove with Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield) ripping a double down the third base line to give the Eagles a pair on with just one out in the sixth. However, that would be all for EMU as NIU would work a strike out and an infield popup to escape with no damage done.
Both pitchers settled into an incredible groove with neither side able to push across the go ahead run.
The Eagles and Huskies return to action Saturday, May 7, at 3 p.m. inside Oestrike Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Eagle All-Access with Chad Bush and Greg Steiner calling the action. The pregame show begins at 2:50 p.m. on EMUEagles.com/showcase.
Postgame Interview.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Alex Jones's RBI double in the ninth inning proved to be the difference, as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team saw its nation's longest winning streak snapped with a 4-3 setback to Northern Illinois University Friday, May 6, in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Oestrike Stadium.
Both starting pitchers allowed early runs before settling into a groove. Then after walking the leadoff hitter in the ninth and and with his pitch count at 125, Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) was lifted in favor on closer Kristian Calibuso (Brandon, Fla.-Armwood-Florida State College). A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second, then Jones doubled to left to drive in Jamison Wells to give NIU the 4-3 edge.
EMU tried to answer in the bottom of the inning, but stranded a runner at third to end the contest.
For Eastern Michigan, which drops to 30-16 (12-7 MAC) on the year, Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) and Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) both had two hits in three plate appearances, and Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) drove in pair runs for the Eagles. Wendzicki suffered his fifth loss of the year, going 8.0 innings, allowing 12 hits and four runs while striking out eight .
Jeff Zimmerman had a pair of solo home runs for Northern Illinois, which moved to 23-21 (11-8 MAC). Jones also drove in a pair, including the deciding run in the ninth. Zach Oates took the win for the Cardinal and Black, allowing three runs in 8.0 innings of work.
The Huskies quickly jumped on the board in the first inning, as Jones singled home Wells to take the 1-0 lead just three batters into the contest.
However, EMU promptly answered in its turn at bat when Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) opened with a leadoff triple to right field and scored three pitches later on an Ohrman ground out to knot the score at 1-all.
Zimmerman swung at the first pitch he saw from Wendzicki to open the second inning, driving the ball over the 370-foot sign in left center field for his sixth home run of the season to give NIU the lead back at 2-1.
Eastern Michigan loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning with two away in the frame, but Oates forced Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) to fly out to center to escape the jam. NIU threaten in their portion of the fourth stanza by loading the bases, but Wendzicki worked his way through getting Jones to strike out swinging to keep the deficit at just a run.
Zimmerman cracked his second home run of the night on the first pitch he saw in the fifth inning, upping the Huskies' edge to 3-1.
After struggling offensively through the first four innings of play, Eastern loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single in the bottom of the fifth. With no outs showing on the scoreboard, Ohrman reached on a fielders choice that allowed Matt Hitt (Fishers, Ind.-Fishers-Kishwaukee College) to come home and score. Leonard then flew out to deep center, allowing Ott to tag up at third and again tie the contest at 3-3.
With Oates' pitch count above 100, the Eagles bats continued to find their groove with Lee Longo (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield) ripping a double down the third base line to give the Eagles a pair on with just one out in the sixth. However, that would be all for EMU as NIU would work a strike out and an infield popup to escape with no damage done.
Both pitchers settled into an incredible groove with neither side able to push across the go ahead run.
The Eagles and Huskies return to action Saturday, May 7, at 3 p.m. inside Oestrike Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Eagle All-Access with Chad Bush and Greg Steiner calling the action. The pregame show begins at 2:50 p.m. on EMUEagles.com/showcase.
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