Mioduszewski's Career Day Leads Eastern Past Michigan, 4-3

Coach Alexander Postgame Interview

Re-listen to the Game

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – In its second extra-inning ballgame in the past three games, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team scored one run in the 10th on a Michael Mioduszewski single to beat the University of Michigan, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon, April 16, at the Wilpon Complex. Mioduszewski posted career highs with three hits and two RBI, while making the game-winning grab in left field, to lead the Eagles (13-21) to victory over the Wolverines (16-20-1) for the seventh consecutive occasion.

Eastern tallied four runs on seven hits as Mioduszewski's 3-for-5 day at the plate was followed by Lee Longo, who went 2-for-4 with a RBI triple. On the mound, EMU starter Paul Schaak was outstanding, lasting a season-high six innings and giving up just two runs on seven hits. The senior southpaw struck out six and did not walk a batter as his only major mistake was giving up a two-run home run to Kyle Jusick. Devon Bronson (2-2) entered in the ninth inning, getting the final four outs of the game to earn the win.

Jusick tallied a pair of hits alongside teammates Jacob Cronenworth and Cole Martin who recorded two hits apiece. The Wolverines out-hit the Green and White 11-7, but left 11 runners on base throughout the contest. Cronenworth (2-2), Michigan's closer who got the nod in left field to begin the game, took the loss by allowing one run on one hit and two walks. Donnie Eaton pitched an effective 4.2 innings in relief for U-M, striking out seven.

Sam Ott began the ballgame with a leadoff walk before stealing second base to get into scoring position. Looking to knock in his teammate, John Rubino found a hole through the left side for a base hit, and Ott rounded third heading for home; however, the Wolverines kept the Eagles off the scoreboard by throwing the EMU senior out at the plate. Rubino advanced to second on the throw home but was left stranded on the base path.

The Eagles scored the game's first runs with two in the top of the third. Ty Gilmore walked to begin the inning. The starting third baseman proceeded to take off for second on a hit-and-run play, reaching safely as Ott grounded out to first. After a flyout by Rubino advanced Gilmore to third, Longo blasted a two-out triple to the right field wall to plate his fellow Eagle. The two-out RBI was Longo's 19 of the season as the senior has hit at a .585 clip throughout the season with two outs in the inning. Adam Sonabend kept the inning going with a double to bring Longo across the dish and give EMU a 2-0 advantage.

After Schaak struck out four through the first three innings and held the Michigan sluggers at bay, U-M tied the game up in the fourth with a two-run home run by Jusick. The lefty hit the first batter of the inning before Jusick just cleared the fence in right field for his first career home run. However, Schaak settled down by retiring the next three Wolverines to get out of the inning with the game knotted at two.

The tie did not last long as Eastern tacked on a run in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, 3-2. Ott became the fourth EMU leadoff batter to start off an inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rubino. Longo continued his strong day with a single through the left side to put runners on the corners with just one out. After Sonabend took a pitch to the helmet that loaded the bases, Mioduszewski came through in the clutch with a single to right field, scoring Ott.

With Schaak out of the game, Michigan tied things up with one run in the bottom of the seventh. Michael Marsinek retired the first two Wolverines before walking Travis Maezes. Then, Cronenworth hit a shallow fly to right field; Ott charged in and tried to make the diving catch but came up just short to allow Maezes to score. Cronenworth advanced to third on the throw home but was left 90 feet from home as Marsinek got out of the inning.

The Wolverines threatened with a leadoff double in the eighth, and the runner advanced to third on a bunt. However, Michigan failed at a suicide squeeze attempt and Sonabend hustled down the third base line to tag the runner out.

Neither team could score in the ninth as the game went into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Miosduzewski once again came through in a pressure situation to give his team the lead. Ott walked for the third time in the game but was thrown out on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Rubino. However, Rubino sprinted to second on a passed ball, and Michigan chose to walk Longo to set up the double with just one out. While Sonabend struck out, Mioduszewski smacked another opposite field base hit to plate Rubino and give EMU the one-run advantage.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Maize and Blue was able to get two runners on base, but Mioduszewski made a diving catch with two outs to secure the victory for Eastern Michigan and cap off the best day of his young EMU career.

Head Coach Jay Alexander and company will host Miami University in a MAC cross-divisional series, April 18-20. The opening game at Oestrike Stadium will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, April 18. The middle contest will follow on Saturday, April 18, with a 3 p.m. first pitch before the two MAC squads take the field on Easter Sunday, April 20, at 1 p.m.

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Team Stats

Mike Mioduszewski

Lee Longo

John Rubino

Adam Sonabend

Eastern Michigan Athletics