EMU Falls in Wild Rubber Match With Central Michigan, 11-9

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In a wild and high-scoring affair, the Eastern Michigan University baseball dropped the series' rubber match against Central Michigan University, 11-9, Sunday afternoon, April 28. The Eagles dropped its second straight game in as many days to the Chippewas at Theunissen Stadium.

EMU's record now stands at an even .500 overall as well as in Mid-American Conference play (20-20, 9-9 MAC) while Central Michigan inches closer to a 20-win season (19-22, 8-10 MAC).

Sunday starter Paul Schaak (3-3) was roughed up through four innings, giving up six runs (all earned) on six hits. CMU's Rick Dodridge (2-4) gave up five runs in five innings, but only one was earned as the Chippewas threw the baseball around throughout the day, totaling six errors.

Designated hitter Lee Longo went 2-4 on the afternoon with a pair of runs batted in, and shortstop John Rubino reached based four times in the game, going 1-3 with three walks. However, the hot bat of the day belonged to CMU's Jordan Adams as the designated hitter plated five RBI including a three-run blast in the third inning.

The Eagles started off hot, tallying three runs in the first. Daniel Russell walked to lead off the game, and Rubino singled to center field. Attempting to advance the runners via the sacrifice bunt, Sam Ott reached base after third baseman Tom Lally's throw went awry, allowing Russell to cross home plate. A Longo single to left brought in Rubino and Ott to make it 3-0.

The Chippewas responded to take the lead, 4-3, with a four-hit, four-run third inning. Pat MacKenzie doubled home a run before Adams sent a three-run shot over the left field fence to give CMU the one-run advantage.

EMU reclaimed the lead in the fifth with a pair of unearned runs. Ott scored on a passed ball, and Jamie Simpson's sacrifice fly allowed Longo to cross home, giving the Green and White the lead, 5-4. However, the lead did not last long as the Chippewas answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Dimmerling relieved Schaak after the first two batters of the inning reached base, but he could not get out of the jam. Adams singled to plate two for his fourth and fifth RBI of the game, and a sac fly gave CMU a two-run lead. Four more runs in the sixth increased Central's advantage to six, 11-5.

Things got interesting in the top of the ninth. With the Green and White still trailing by six, thoughts of a comeback seems impossible at the start of the inning. Nonetheless, the Eagles did not give up, even when they were down to their final out. CMU pitching struggled to close the game, walking two and hitting one batter to load the bases with one out. After Simpson struck out, Dae Bowden and Mitchell McGeein kept EMU's hopes alive with back-to-back singles that brought in three Eagles, cutting the difference in half, 11-8. EMU's Nick Rotola stepped up with the tying run on first, but struck out swinging. However, the pitch got past CMU catcher Dylan Goodwin, allowing Rotola to reach first and Bowden to score, giving the Eastern a second-life. Russell then walked to load the bases, leaving it up to Rubino with two outs and the go-ahead run on first. It wasn't meant to be as Rubino struck out looking on a 1-2 pitch, and the Chippewas celebrated surviving a near-collapse to take the weekend series.

The Green and White will play five games this upcoming week. EMU tangles with Kent State University Tuesday, April 30, in a 5 p.m. non-conference game at All-Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio. The Eagles then head to South Bend, Ind. for a makeup contest against the University of Notre Dame with game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EMU then returns home for a three-game Mid-American Conference series against Ball State University, May 3-5.

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Team Stats

Lee Longo

John Rubino

Sam Ott

Dae Bowden

Eastern Michigan Athletics