Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, May 15
Toledo, Ohio
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
18-33, 5-20
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Toledo
21-31, 10-15
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Toledo
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Longo Powers EMU Baseball Past Rockets, 10-5
5/15/2014 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
The MAC's top hitter goes 4-for-4 with one home run, one double, two runs and two RBI
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team started off its final series of the 2014 season with a 10-5 victory over the University of Toledo Thursday afternoon, May 15, at Scott Park. Trailing by three after three innings, the Eagles (18-33, 5-20 MAC) scored six runs in the top of the fourth and never looked back for the five-run win against the Mid-American Conference rival Rockets (21-31, 10-15 MAC).
Lee Longo led the Eagles to victory, reaching base all five times he stepped up to the plate. The MAC's top hitter went 4-for-4 on the day, including a double and his second home run of the season. Longo scored twice and also knocked in two runs to bring his career RBI total to 146, claiming sole possession of fifth place on the EMU all-time list. Sam Ott added two hits as well as the two senior combined for six of the team's nine hits. The other three hits came from Ty Gilmore, Nick Rotola and Austin Wilson as the three Eagles also tallied two RBI apiece.
Eastern played error-free baseball behind EMU starter Sterling Sharp (2-6), who finished his freshman season with a career day on the mound. Sharp lasted a season-long 7.1 innings while striking out a career-high six opposing hitters. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walking just one. Ryan Lavoie closed the door on the Rockets, pitching the final 1.2 innings and giving up one run on two hits for his first save of the year.
Toledo also recorded nine hits, but committed three errors in the field. Four Rockets tallied multi-hit games, and Tyler Grogg reached base on three occasions. Nate Langhals added a solo home run as part of a two-RBI day. On the bump, reigning MAC West Pitcher of the Week Ryan Wilkinson (6-5) was charged with the loss as the Eagles pegged him for seven runs (six earned ) on seven hits in just 6.1 innings.
Ott started the game off with a base hit before Longo walked to put two runners on base. However, the two Eagles were left stranded as Wilkinson ended the EMU threat. In the bottom half of the inning, UT struck first with the first two Rocket hitters reaching base. A sacrifice fly by Dan Zachowski scored Grogg, but Sharp was able to retire three straight to get out of the inning trailing only by a single run.
After Toledo added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, EMU countered with six runs in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead. Longo began the inning back smacking the first pitch he saw to the deepest part of the ball park in center field, scampering to second for the conference-leading 20th double of the season as well as the 53rd of his career. With two outs, Longo scored as Gilmore blasted a pitch to right field, moving Mitchell McGeein to third. A walk by Rotola loaded the bases, but Wilson quickly cleared them with a double to left center. Ott followed with a single that plated Wilson, and Rubino reached on an error by Wilkinson to keep the inning alive. Stepping up to the plate for the second time in the inning, Longo found a hole in the outfield to score Ott. As 11 Eagles came to the plate, the Green and White scored all six runs with two outs.
The Rockets responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, but two outstanding plays in foul territory by the EMU defense prevented a big inning and helped maintain a two-run cushion.
In the top of the seventh, Longo against blasted a long fly to deep center field, and this time the ball cleared the fence to increase the Eagles' lead to three, 7-4. The homer was the third hit of the game for Longo as a triple stood between the senior and the cycle.
Eastern added three insurance runs in the ninths on two hits and three walks. Longo singled for his fourth hit of the game before two walks loaded the bases. Gilmore drew a walk for another RBI, and Rotola snuck one through the left side to plate a pair of Eagles. The final plate appearances for EMU doubled the lead to six. Despite UT scoring once in the ninth, Lavoie finished the job for Eastern's five-run victory.
The Eagles and Rockets return to the diamond Friday, May 16, for the second game of the series. First pitch from Toledo, Ohio is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game can be heard live on Eagle All-Access as Chad Bush and Greg Steiner have the call.
Lee Longo led the Eagles to victory, reaching base all five times he stepped up to the plate. The MAC's top hitter went 4-for-4 on the day, including a double and his second home run of the season. Longo scored twice and also knocked in two runs to bring his career RBI total to 146, claiming sole possession of fifth place on the EMU all-time list. Sam Ott added two hits as well as the two senior combined for six of the team's nine hits. The other three hits came from Ty Gilmore, Nick Rotola and Austin Wilson as the three Eagles also tallied two RBI apiece.
Eastern played error-free baseball behind EMU starter Sterling Sharp (2-6), who finished his freshman season with a career day on the mound. Sharp lasted a season-long 7.1 innings while striking out a career-high six opposing hitters. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walking just one. Ryan Lavoie closed the door on the Rockets, pitching the final 1.2 innings and giving up one run on two hits for his first save of the year.
Toledo also recorded nine hits, but committed three errors in the field. Four Rockets tallied multi-hit games, and Tyler Grogg reached base on three occasions. Nate Langhals added a solo home run as part of a two-RBI day. On the bump, reigning MAC West Pitcher of the Week Ryan Wilkinson (6-5) was charged with the loss as the Eagles pegged him for seven runs (six earned ) on seven hits in just 6.1 innings.
Ott started the game off with a base hit before Longo walked to put two runners on base. However, the two Eagles were left stranded as Wilkinson ended the EMU threat. In the bottom half of the inning, UT struck first with the first two Rocket hitters reaching base. A sacrifice fly by Dan Zachowski scored Grogg, but Sharp was able to retire three straight to get out of the inning trailing only by a single run.
After Toledo added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, EMU countered with six runs in the fourth to take a 6-3 lead. Longo began the inning back smacking the first pitch he saw to the deepest part of the ball park in center field, scampering to second for the conference-leading 20th double of the season as well as the 53rd of his career. With two outs, Longo scored as Gilmore blasted a pitch to right field, moving Mitchell McGeein to third. A walk by Rotola loaded the bases, but Wilson quickly cleared them with a double to left center. Ott followed with a single that plated Wilson, and Rubino reached on an error by Wilkinson to keep the inning alive. Stepping up to the plate for the second time in the inning, Longo found a hole in the outfield to score Ott. As 11 Eagles came to the plate, the Green and White scored all six runs with two outs.
The Rockets responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, but two outstanding plays in foul territory by the EMU defense prevented a big inning and helped maintain a two-run cushion.
In the top of the seventh, Longo against blasted a long fly to deep center field, and this time the ball cleared the fence to increase the Eagles' lead to three, 7-4. The homer was the third hit of the game for Longo as a triple stood between the senior and the cycle.
Eastern added three insurance runs in the ninths on two hits and three walks. Longo singled for his fourth hit of the game before two walks loaded the bases. Gilmore drew a walk for another RBI, and Rotola snuck one through the left side to plate a pair of Eagles. The final plate appearances for EMU doubled the lead to six. Despite UT scoring once in the ninth, Lavoie finished the job for Eastern's five-run victory.
The Eagles and Rockets return to the diamond Friday, May 16, for the second game of the series. First pitch from Toledo, Ohio is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game can be heard live on Eagle All-Access as Chad Bush and Greg Steiner have the call.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sharp, Sterling (2-6)
L: WILKINSON (6-5)
S: Lavoie, Ryan (1)
Batting:
2B: Longo, Lee 1
HR: Longo, Lee 1
RBI: Ott, Sam 1 ; Longo, Lee 2 ; Gilmore, Ty 2 ; Rotola, Nick 2 ; Wilson, Austin 2
SH: Rubino, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ott, Sam 1 ; Longo, Lee 2 ; Bowden, Dae 1 ; Sonabend, Adam 1 ; McGeein, Mitchell 2 ; Gilmore, Ty 1 ; Rotola, Nick 1 ; Wilson, Austin 1
SB: Bowden, Dae 2
Batting:
2B: MIGLIN 2
HR: LANGHALS 1
RBI: TANSEL 1 ; ZUCHOWSKI 1 ; CALLAHAN 1 ; LANGHALS 2
SH: TANSEL 1
SF: ZUCHOWSKI 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GROGG 2 ; MARTILLOTTA 1 ; MIGLIN 1 ; LANGHALS 1
SB: GROGG 1 ; TANSEL 1
HBP: GROGG 1
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