EMU Doubles Up Ohio, 10-5, to Claim Series Finale

ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a career-high five-hit day by junior second baseman John Rubino, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team out-slugged Ohio University, 10-5, to take the final contest of the three-game Mid-American Conference series Sunday afternoon, April 27, at Bob Wren Stadium. The victory over the Bobcats (8-32, 4-14 MAC) marks the third time that the Eagles (15-26, 3-15 MAC) have won the finale of a conference series this season.

The top four hitters in the EMU lineup tallied 11 of the team's 13 hits on the afternoon led by Rubino, who went 5-for-6 with one double, two runs and a RBI. Rubino's five hits are the most recorded by an Eagle in one game since Brent Ohrman recorded six hits against the University at Buffalo, May 12, 2012. Sam Ott capped off an impressive weekend with his fourth straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-6 and scoring three times as the Eagles' leadoff hitter. The senior right fielder also smacked the 48th double of his career, moving into sole possession of fifth place on the EMU all-time career doubles list. Batting in the cleanup spot, senior Adam Sonabend produced a team-best three RBI on a pair of hits while Lee Longo knocked in two runs as well.

Jake Andrews improved to 3-4 on the season, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits. After Andrews left the game in the sixth, the EMU bullpen shut down the OU bats. The trio of Ryan Lavoie, Layne Gusler and Charlie Land tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball while surrendering just three hits throughout the final stretch.

Ohio scored five runs on 11 hits as four different Bobcats recorded two hits apiece. OU starter Connor Sitz (0-8) took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits. Eastern found success off of Gerry Salisbury; the freshman southpaw gave up three runs and three hits without retiring a batter in the sixth inning.

In their first appearance at the plate, the Eagles struck first with a two-out rally. Rubino doubled to left field before coming around to score on a Longo single. Two innings later, EMU added another run as Ott started things off with a double. The right fielder advanced to third while Longo reached first due to an OU error. With his teammate 90 feet away from home, Sonabend brought Ott across the plate on a groundout to first, giving EMU a 2-0 lead.

After the Bobcats cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fourth, both teams brought out the bats for a combined nine runs in the sixth inning. Eastern scored five runs on four hits and a pair obase on balls, all with two outs. Tony DiLeo and Ty Gilmore showed patience at the plate for walks before three straight singles scored three runs for the Green and White. Michael Mioduszewski, Ott and Rubino smacked RBI base hits, while the latter two followed their singles with stolen bases to inch closer to home. As Longo was plunked by a pitch to load the bases, Sonabend continued the two-out scoring by finding a hole through the left side of the infield, plating both Ott and Rubino. While the Green and White put up five in the top half of the inning, Ohio responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-5 ballgame.

Eastern added an insurance run in the eighth after loading the bases with nobody out. Ott and Rubino singled before a passed ball and a steal put both runners in scoring position. OU decided to intentionally walk Longo to load the bases for Sonabend. The decision paid off as the EMU catcher rolled into a double play; however, Ott crossed home on the play to give the Eagles a three-run cushion.

EMU put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in their offensive opportunity. First, the Eagles took advantage of an OU miscue at third base that allowed Nick Rotola to score another run. Longo brought in the game's final run on a sacrifice fly, bringing in Mioduszewski. Land shut the door on the Bobcats in the bottom of the ninth, striking out two-of-three to complete the 10-5 victory for Eastern Michigan.

The Green and White will return home for a pair of mid-week non-conference contests before continuing down the MAC road. EMU will host in-state foe Madonna, April 29, in search of the program's 500th win at Oestrike Stadium. The next day, April 30, the Eagles will welcome fellow MAC member Bowling Green for a rare non-conference matchup between two MAC institutions. Eastern will wrap up the week with a three-game set at Western Michigan, May 2-4, in a MAC West showdown.

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Team Stats

John Rubino

Sam Ott

Adam Sonabend

Mike Mioduszewski

Eastern Michigan Athletics