Bats Spark as EMU Surges Past Hillsdale, 14-6

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team lit up the scoreboard to win its third consecutive non-conference contest, charging past Hillsdale College, 14-6, Tuesday night, April 22, under the lights of Oestrike Stadium. The Eagles (14-24) tallied 14 runs on 14 hits, while also taking advantage of four errors by the Chargers (13-27) for the 499th EMU victory in Oestrike Stadium history.

Leadoff hitter Sam Ott paced the EMU sluggers at the dish, going 3-for-6 with three runs. Freshman John Montgomery had the best game of his young career to the tune of two runs, two RBI and two hits that included a double that nearly cleared the fence for what would have been a grand slam. Ann Arbor, Mich. native Miles Sorise took advantage of his playing time with a pair of extra-base hits, one of them being his first career triple. Mitchell McGeein and Andrew Mallon knocked in two runs apiece as Mallon's RBI single was the first hit of his EMU career.

Southpaw Michael Marsinek got the ball to start the game for Eastern, pitching three innings of scoreless baseball while allowing just two hits. Flame-throwing senior Kristian Calibuso (2-0) picked up the victory by following Marsinek in 2.2 innings of relief.

Hillsdale committed four errors that led to six EMU runs. The Chargers saw production out of third baseman Chris McDonald who went 3-for-5 while crossing the plate three times. Joe Chasen (0-1) surrendered seven runs (three earned) on five hits through four innings. Lincoln Reed and Adam Ladzinski also added a pair of hits for HC as the visitors chalked up 11 throughout the night.

The Eagles did not waste any time putting runs up on the scoreboard as the entire EMU lineup stepped up to the plate in the first inning. Behind pair of singles and a hit by pitch, the three Eagles reached base to load the bags for Michael Mioduszewski; the cleanup hitter knocked in the first run of the game on a ground ball to second. Tony DiLeo walked to load the bases once again, and McGeein found a hole through the left side to plate two Eagles. Eastern added one more before the inning was over to take a 4-0 advantage.

After Hillsdale cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth, EMU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Rotola scored as Dae Bowden reached on an error. Bowden, the starting center fielder, came around to touch home on a Lee Longo double to left field. Longo later crossed the plate himself on another HC error, making it 7-2 in favor of the Green and White.

The Chargers scored one run in the sixth, but once again Head Coach Jay Alexander's ballclub countered with more runs in their offensive side of the inning. Ott and Montgomery singled before the duo scampered around the bases on a Hillsdale throwing error that rolled down the right field line, allowing Mallon to reach base safely.

In the seventh, HC notched a pair of runs before the Green and White plated five following the seventh-inning stretch. EMU recorded six hits throughout the inning as Sorise started things off with a triple. Rotola scored his teammate on a base knock to center field. Ott and Bowden followed with back-to-back infield singles to pack the bases full of Eagles. With a great RBI opportunity in front of him, Montgomery delivered a shot that sounded like it could leave the yard after the crack of the bat. However, the ball bounced off the top of the wall, allowing two Eagles to race home on the long double. Mallon contributed with a single for his first collegiate hit as well as his first two RBI as an Eagle.

Following the mid-week home victory, the Eagles will flock south to Athens, Ohio, to battle the Bobcats of Ohio University, April 25-27. The series opener begins at 6 p.m. Friday, April 25, and the cross-divisional affair continues, April 26, with a 3 p.m first pitch. The finale at Bob Wren Stadium is scheduled to take place Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m.

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Team Stats

Sam Ott

Dae Bowden

John Montgomery

Miles Sorise

Eastern Michigan Athletics