Longo Leads the Way in 9-2 Stomping of Bulls

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team cruised past the University at Buffalo, 9-2, Saturday afternoon, April 13, at Oestrike Stadium. Brian Hill won his third-consecutive game to move to 4-1 on the year and Lee Longo turned in a four-RBI day to even the series at a game apiece.

Following Friday's game in which the Bulls (17-13; 7-3 MAC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead, the Eagles (14-17; 4-6 MAC) did the same Saturday with two tallies in the first inning and four more in the third. The pitching trio of Hill, Brian Valente and Taylor Dimmerling combined to hold a potent UB offense to just two runs while striking out 10.

Longo went 3-for-4 with a team-best four RBI on the afternoon. All three of his hits went for extra bases including his third homer of the year, a two-run blast, in EMU's four-run third inning. Daniel Russell also (3-for-4) while hitting his team-leading fifth triple of the season. The three-bagger was the 15th in his career and tied him for second place all-time at EMU in that category.

Mitchell McGeein posted a 2-for-4 outing with his third round-tripper of the season, a solo shot in the fourth. Sam Ott accounted for one of Eastern Michigan's six extra-base knocks on a 3-for-5 afternoon. Ott also drove in three runs for the second time in the 2013 campaign. Adam Sonabend (2-for-5) had the other Eagles' RBI.

On the mound, Hill pitched five innings and gave up a pair of runs on eight hits while fanning five. Valente and Dimmerling combined to pitch four scoreless frames.

For Buffalo, starter Anthony Magovney was roughed up by a potent EMU offense. He lasted just 3.1 innings while allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks. Alex Baldock remained hot at the dish, going 3-for-5. Jim Topps was also 3-for-5, while Tyler Mautner (1-for-4) and Mike Scarcello (2-for-4) posted the UB RBIs.

EMU's bats started off hot as Russell drilled a gapper to right-center for a triple. Ott then scorched an RBI single to right field and Longo cranked a double to centerfield to put the Eagles in the lead, 2-0.

Buffalo threatened with runners at the corners and one out in the second after Mike Burke sent a screaming line drive off the glove of Nick Rotola at second base. Hill worked his way out of the jam with a fielder's choice and a flyout.

Magovney pitched his way into more trouble in the third inning by walking Russell and John Rubino to lead off. With snow flurries in the air, Ott drilled a fly ball off the centerfield wall for a pair of RBI. Longo took a cue from Ott and sent a shot over the wall in nearly the same spot in center for a two-run jack and a 6-0 EMU advantage.

A Scarcello RBI double in the fourth got the Bulls on the scoreboard, 6-1. In the bottom of that frame, Russell and Rubino once again reached base to lead off. Russell moved over to third on an Ott flyout and Rubino stole second to leave a base open for Longo, who was given first to load the bases.

Sonabend smacked a single to centerfield, scoring Rubino while making it a six-run lead once again and chasing Scarcello from the mound. Cory Folk came on in relief and limited EMU to just the one run with a pair of infield popups.

Baldock and Mautner notched back-to-back two baggers in the fifth to pull back to within five, 7-2. That score held until the bottom of the seventh inning, when McGeein went yard to left field to make it 8-2 for the home squad. Another Longo double in the eighth plated Ott from first base and capped off the scoring.

In the ninth, Dimmerling shut the door with a pair of strikeouts and preserved the 9-2 win.

The Eagles and Bulls wrap up this three-game series Sunday, April 14, beginning at 1 p.m.

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Team Stats

Daniel Russell

Sam Ott

Lee Longo

Adam Sonabend

Eastern Michigan Athletics