Four Run Seventh Inning Lifts EMU Past Kansas, 6-4

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team kicked off its four-game series against Kansas University with a 6-4 victory against at QuikTrip Park Friday, March 1. The Eagles (2-5) received a seven-inning effort from starter Neil Butara (1-2) and three RBI from right fielder Sam Ott.

EMU held a narrow 2-1 edge over the Jayhawks (4-4) until the seventh inning, when the Green and White scored four runs for a 6-1 lead. A potent Kansas lineup made it interesting with a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth, but Joe Battistelli left the tying run at the dish for his second save of the year.

The top six hitters in Head Coach Jay Alexander's lineup were responsible for all nine hits on the afternoon, with leadoff man Daniel Russell (2-for-3), three-hole hitter Ott (2-for-4) and clean-up batter Lee Longo (2-for-4) all turning in a pair of knocks apiece. Russell also tallied the game's winning run on a wild pitch in the seventh.

One of Ott's hits was his first home run of the season, a two-run blast in the fourth. Shortstop John Rubino had the other two RBI on a 1-for-2 afternoon. Rubino also scored a run and worked a base on balls.

Butara's final line was seven innings pitched, seven hits, one earned run, one walk and five strikeouts. Battistelli struck out one batter in his one inning on the hill.

For Kansas, starter Frank Duncan (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season in 6.2 innings of work over which he gave up six runs (two earned) and eight hits. Third baseman Jordan Dreiling paced the KU offense, going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two doubles.

The Jayhawks scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning on Dreiling's first two-bagger of the game. EMU came back to take the lead in the fourth with Ott's blast to right field. The homer scored Russell, who was hit by a pitch to begin the frame.

In the sixth, Alex DeLeon poked a single through the left side to put runners at the corners with two out. Butara worked his way out of trouble as Dakota Smith grounded to shortstop for the force at second.

Eastern Michigan's offense made it a 6-1 affair in the seventh as a throwing error by KU shortstop Justin Protacio proved to be a costly mistake for the Jayhawks. Duncan recorded the first two outs before Miles Sorise reached base on Protacio's miscue. Marquise Gill was then plunked by a Duncan offering and both runners then advanced on a passed ball. That forced the Jayhawks to intentionally walk Russell to load the bases.

Rubino stepped up to the plate and made Kansas pay with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to make it 4-1. Russell then scored on a wild pitch and Ott drove in Rubino for an insurance marker before the third out was made.

KU nearly posted a comeback in the final two innings, touching up EMU reliever Devon Bronson for three runs on three hits, but Battistelli came on with nobody out in the ninth and limited the damage.

Games two and three of this four-game set will be played Saturday, March 2, as part of a doubleheader beginning at noon central time.

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Team Stats

Daniel Russell

Sam Ott

Lee Longo

John Rubino

Eastern Michigan Athletics