EMU Bats Silenced in 8-2 Loss to No. 30 Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team was held to a season-low three hits as the No. 30-ranked University of Kentucky used a seven-run fifth inning to take an 8-2 decision over the Eagles Friday evening, Feb. 28, at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Wildcats scored seven unearned runs in the fifth to improve their record to 7-2, while the Eagles drop to 4-5 on the 2014 campaign.

Nine of the 10 runs scored between the two programs were unearned as each team committed a pair of errors. EMU scored two runs along with three hits, and UK tallied eight runs with the help of 13 base knocks.

Ty Gilmore, Sam Ott and Miles Sorise were the only three Eagles to find a hit against the tough UK pitching. With an 0-for-3 performance at the plate, two-time reigning Mid-American Conference West Player of the Week Lee Longo saw his 15-game hitting streak, that dated back to last season, come to an end.

EMU ace Jake Andrews (1-1) picked up the loss after starting the first 4.2 innings. While the junior college transfer allowed eight hits and seven runs, all of the runs were unearned due to an error to begin the bottom of the fifth.

Kentucky's A.J.Reed (3-0) earned the victory on the mound, pitching six innings of scoreless baseball while only allowing two hits. He also helped out in the offensive effort, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Leadoff hitter Kyle Barrett paced the UK hitting with three hits in five at-bats while catcher Michael Thomas added a pair of hits and RBI.

Andrews held the Kentucky bats in check through the first four innings as the EMU ace was able to get out of jams, including a big one in the bottom of the third. A two-out double put runners on second and third with Reed, the reigning NCAA National Player of the Week, at the dish. EMU Head Coach Jay Alexander elected to intentionally walk the Preseason All-American. The decision paid off as Kentucky's Ka'ai Tom hit a ground ball to Nick Rotola, who flipped the ball over to John Rubino for the force out at second to end the threat.

UK broke open the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth by taking advantage of an EMU error that led to seven unearned runs. A miscue by Rubino allowed the leadoff batter to reach base, but Andrews got the next two Wildcats to ground out. However, Kentucky started a two-out rally with four hits and three walks that led to seven runs, eventually forcing the EMU starter out of the game.

After the Wildcats added an insurance run in the sixth, the Eagles scored their only two runs of the contest in the top of the seventh with a two-out rally of their own. Rotola walked before Sorise singled up the middle and advanced to second on a throw to third base as Rotola slid in before the tag. Center fielder Austin Wilson reached base on a throwing error by the UK third baseman, allowing both Rotola and Sorise to cross the plate.

Due to inclement weather in the Sunday forecast, the March 2 series finale has been moved to Saturday, March 1 as part of a doubleheader between the Eagles and Wildcats. The Saturday doubleheader will begin at noon from Cliff Hagan Stadium with the final game of the series immediately following the conclusion of the first game.

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Team Stats

John Rubino

Sam Ott

Ty Gilmore

Miles Sorise

Eastern Michigan Athletics