Baseball Falls to Toledo, Will Miss Out on MAC Tournament

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team's season came to a close Saturday afternoon, May 18, as the Eagles dropped, 6-5, to the University of Toledo, in the rubber match of the series at Oestrike Stadium. With the loss combined with wins by Bowling Green State University and Central Michigan University means the Eagles will miss out on the conference tournament for the first time since 2005.

Prior to the game, EMU seniors Joe Battistelli (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park), Neil Butara (Euclid, Ohio-St. Ignatius), Taylor Dimmerling (Perrysburg, Ohio-Perrysburg), Brian Hill (Flagstaff, Ariz.-Sinagua-Phoenix College), Daniel Russell (Grandville, Mich.-Grandville), Jamie Simpson (Dowagiac, Mich.-Dowagiac-Western Michigan), Brian Valente (Macomb, Mich.-Eisenhower-Saginaw Valley State) and Austin Williams (Spring Hill, Kan.-Gardner Edgerton-Fort Scott C.C.) were honored for their careers as Eagles.

Central Michigan defeated Western Michigan in Kalamazoo Saturday, 9-2, giving the Eagles and Chippewas identical 12-15 record in conference play. However, EMU was eliminated from postseason competition as the Chippwas held the tiebreaker over their rival after taking two of three games earlier this season in Mount Pleasant.

The Eagles (26-28, 12-15 MAC) were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as shortstop John Rubino's (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon) 2-for-4 performance, including both a run and a run batted in, paced EMU at the dish. EMU starter Paul Schaak (Winkler, Manitoba-Vauxhall-Southern Idaho C.C.) surrendered three runs on five hits in three innings to take the loss (3-5).

The Rockets (22-31, 13-14 MAC) tallied six runs on 13 hits led by Ryan Callahan. The UT right fielder went 3-for-5 with two RBI, and teammates Tyler Grogg and Deion Tansel added a pair of hits. The Midnight Blue and Gold were speedy on the base paths with eight stolen bases.

Toledo started off on the right foot early with back-to-back singles by Grogg and Tansel off Schaak. The duo proceeded to pull off a double steal, moving each runner up 90 feet into scoring position. The Rockets took advantage of the hot start as a sacrifice fly and fielder's choice plated both runners, giving Toledo a 2-0 lead before EMU could get the bats out.

Just like Toledo, the Eagles began their chances at the dish with a pair of hits. Russell down the right field, and Rubino singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) proved why he's been the Green and White's best hitter all season long, as a sac fly by the junior right fielder brought in Russell to cut the deficit to one, 2-1.

The Rockets increased their lead in the top of the third, courtesy of another double steal, including Tansel's second steal of the day. Once again, another fielder's choice scored Tansel to make it 3-1 in favor of UT.

Eastern took advantage of Toledo miscues in the bottom of the fifth. Mitchell McGeein (Calgary, Alberta-Vauxhall) reached on an error before advancing to second on a passed ball with Nick Rotola (Wichita, Kan.-Word of Life Traditional School) at the plate. After Rotola walked, Russell played small ball to advance both runners. Rubino earned an RBI after a sac fly plated McGeein. With two outs, another Toledo error not only kept the inning alive, but allowed Rotola to score, knotting the game at three apiece.

In the top of the seventh, UT tagged EMU reliever Butara for two runs on four hits. The Eagles were sent down in order following the seventh-inning stretch, allowing the Rockets to maintain a 5-3 lead.

Toledo added another run in the eighth to increase its lead to three. However, EMU would respond in their half of the inning with a pair of runs. Back-to-back singles by Rubino and Ott put runners on the corners to start the inning. The Eagles were once again able to plate another run via the sacrifice fly as Lee Longo's (Mayfield, Ohio-Mayfield) fly ball to left brought Rubino across the plate. Adam Sonabend (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Desert Mountain) added a hit of his own with Ott going from first to third base. Simpson added a sac fly RBI in his last game at Oestrike Stadium, cutting the difference to one, 6-5. Austin Wilson kept the inning alive with a base knock before he and Sonabend moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. However, with the go-ahead run at second, Toledo catcher James Miglin snagged McGeein's foul ball against the net behind home plate to end the inning.

The Eagles were down to their final three outs, needing to win to keep their season alive. Rotola began the inning striking out, but reached first after the ball got away from Miglin. Two batters later, Rubino was plunked by a pitch to put the winning run on base. Ott advanced the runners, to put Eagles on second and third with two outs, bringing Longo to the plate. However, Longo was sent down on strikes as Toledo took the series' rubber match, 6-5.

EMU ends its season 26-28, finishing ninth in the Mid-American Conference at 12-15 and one spot shy of advancing to the MAC Tournament.

MAC Tournament Seeds
No. 1 - Kent State
No. 2 -Buffalo
No. 3 - Northern Illinois
No. 4 -Ball State
No. 5 -Miami
No. 6 - Bowling Green
No. 7 - Toledo
No. 8 - Central Michigan

MAC Tournament Schedule
Game 1 - 9 a.m. - #4 Ball State vs. #5 Miami
Game 2 - 12:30 p.m. - #3 Northern Illinois vs. #6 Bowling Green
Game 3 - 4 p.m. - #2 Buffalo vs. #7 Toledo
Game 4 - 7:30 p.m. - #1 Kent State vs. #8 Central Michigan

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John Rubino

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Lee Longo

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