Baseball Uses Extras to Down No. 16 Clemson in Season Opener

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CLEMSON, S.C. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team won its first season-opening game since the 2010 season as the Eagles snuck past the No. 16-ranked Clemson University Tigers, 6-5, in 10 innings, Feb. 14. The Eagles (1-0) used a four-run sixth to take their first lead of the game before scoring a run in the 10th to get the victory at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

The Green and White last won its season opener Feb. 22, 2010, in a 3-1 decision over No. 25 Kansas in the Metrodome. The victory over the Tigers marked the fifth win over a ranked team in the past seven years. Eastern defeated No. 26 Notre Dame, 12-6, last season, and the Eagles also defeated then-No.4 Clemson during the 2011 season-opening series. EMU knocked off No. 19 Tennessee as well, Feb. 10, 2007, by a final 6-3 tally.

"This was a total team effort to get this victory," commented EMU Head Baseball Coach Jay Alexander. "When we were down, the guys maintained their composure and kept fighting. Our guys fought hard to earn this victory."

Sophomore Nick Rotola went 3-for-4 at the dish to lead the EMU offense, collecting a run and an RBI. Lee Longo added a pair of hits, and a double by Adam Sonabend produced a team-best two RBI. Coming into the game in the eighth inning, Mitchell McGeein replaced Longo at first base before collecting the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th. The Eagles scored six runs on 10 hits and one error while using the big four-run sixth inning to propel the comeback and take the lead. John Rubino reached on Clemson's only error of the contest in the last inning, which ended up being the game-winning run.

In his first game as an Eagle, junior college transfer Jake Andrews lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits. Devon Bronson and Charlie Land pitched scoreless relief efforts of 1.1 and 1.2 innings, respectively, while Kristian Calibuso (1-0) picked up the victory, allowing one run on a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth. Steve Weber (1) sealed the victory with a near-perfect 10th inning in his first outing in almost two years.

Clemson (0-1) was led at the plate by freshman Chris Okey, who tallied a pair of RBI in a 2-for-5 showing. Left fielder Andrew Cox also collected two hits for the Tigers in the loss, and Mike Dunster's pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth tied the contest and forced extra innings.

After the Eagles were sent down in order in the first, the Tigers scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Andrews got the Clemson leadoff hitter to line out to center field before the next two hitters reached base via a double and hit by pitch. He nearly got out of the inning as cleanup hitter Steven Duggar smacked a ground ball to Rubino. Rubino flipped to second baseman to get the out at second, but Rotola's throw could not beat a hustling Duggar down the line, keeping the inning alive for the Tigers. Following a Duggar steal on second to put two runners in scoring position, Okey blooped a single into center on his first collegiate at-bat, bringing around the two Tigers to score and put his team ahead after the first inning of the season.

EMU scored its first run of the season in the top of the third after Rotola recorded the Eagles' first hit of the season. After a single to shallow right field, the Eastern second baseman stole second before advancing to third on a Dae Bowden groundout to the pitcher. Heading back to the top of the order, Rubino grounded out to second, but got the RBI as Rotola crossed the plate. However, Clemson answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to maintain its two-run advantage, 3-1, through the first-third of the game.

Clemson increased its lead to three with another run in the bottom of the fifth. The Tigers' Tyler Krieger walked, stole second and advanced to third on the throwing error by Sonabend. He scored on a groundout, forcing Andrews to exit the game. However, Bronson came on in relief, striking out the first batter he faced to get out of the inning.

The EMU bats came alive in the top half of the sixth as Clemson went to the bullpen. CU starter Daniel Gossett threw five innings while only allowing one run on four hits, striking out three Eagles along the way. Once he left the game and reliever Kevin Pohle entered the game, the Eagles got hot as Wilson and Ott singled to start off the inning. Two batters later, Sonabend made up for his air with a blast over the center fielder that rolled to the wall, scoring two Eagles to cut the deficit to one. Then, the team co-captain stole third before Adam Dennison brought him in on an RBI groudout to tie the game at four. With two outs, Ty Gilmore was plunked to reach base. Rotola attempted to squeeze a bunt out for a single, but the ball rolled just foul as it was running out of gas along the third base line. However, the failed attempt proved to be a positive outcome as Rotola lined a double into the left center gap to score Gilmore and give Eastern its first lead of the season, 5-4.

The Tigers threatened to tie the contest up in the bottom of the seventh as Bronson walked the first batter of the inning. Charlie Land made his first appearance as an Eagle in place of Bronson, getting out of a tight jam. A sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch put a Clemson baserunner on third with just one out. Nonetheless, Land held his ground by retiring back-to-back Tigers to end the threat and keep the Eagles on top by one.

Clemson continued to try and take away Eastern's lead by getting two runners on in the eighth. Land sent down the first two Tigers to begin the inning, but Okey singled and Jon McGibbon walked to force the the EMU reliever out of the contest. Coming in to get out of the jam was senior closer Calibuso. After throwing three pitches out of the zone, Cailbuso tossed back-to-back strikes to get Clemson's Jay Baum to bounce out to Rotola, ending the inning.

Calibuso stayed in the game to try and get the save in the ninth, but a one-out pinch-hit home run by Dunster knotted the ball game up at 5-5. The redshirt-senior proceeded to walk the next batter, who stole second on a swinging strikeout. Coach Alexander decided to intentionally walk Garrett Boulware to set up at force play at any base. However, Calibuso loaded the bases with another walk, bringing up Clemson's best hitter throughout the game in Okey. The count on the Clemson designated hitter drew to 3-1 before Calibuso got him to fly out to Ott, sending the game into extra frames.

Rubino reached base on an error to open up the 10th and advanced to second. Austin Wilson sacrificed himself to get Rubino to third, and Ott was intentionally walked to set up the double play and bring McGeein to the plate.. However, Ott was picked off first during the at-bat, leaving Rubino standing on third as the only Eagle on the base paths. Nonetheless, McGeein was not phased as a swinging bunt to third allowed him to reach first safely while scoring Rubino, giving the Eagles the 6-5 lead.

Weber entered the game in the 10th to close things out, pitching for the first time since May 24, 2012. He sat out the 2013 season recovering from Tommy John surgery; however, Weber looked back to his old form in the season opener, striking out one and allowing one hit to get the save and secure the EMU victory.

The Eagles will look to claim the series with a victory in game two tomorrow, Feb. 15. First pitch from Clemson, S.C. will be at 2:30 p.m. "True" freshman Sterling Sharp plans to make his debut on the mound while the Tigers will counter with left-hander Matthew Crownover. The game can be watched live for free on TigerCast at ClemsonTigers.com.

Baseball Uses Extras to Down No. 16 Clemson in Season Opener

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Team Stats

Nick Rotola

Lee Longo

Austin Wilson

Sam Ott

Eastern Michigan Athletics