Pitching Duel Goes Against EMU in Opening Game with Western

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team saw its bats cool off from the recent hot streak as Western Michigan University's Steve Laudicina held the Eagles (16-28, 3-16 MAC) to one runs on six hits, tossing a complete game to give the Broncos (18-23, 7-12 MAC) a 5-1 victory, May 2, at Homer Stryker Field. The loss breaks Eastern's 11-game winning streak over WMU that dated back to the 2010 season.

While Laudicina (5-4) went the distance for the Broncos, Eastern saw its own starter toss a complete game as freshman Sterling Sharp (1-5) went seven innings, while giving up five runs on nine hits. Seven innings ties personal best in the career of the young EMU arm as he threw 117 pitches, including 72 for strikes. Relieving Sharp and pitching a perfect eighth inning was senior Zane Birchler.

Designated hitter Adam Dennison paced the EMU sluggers with a 2-for-4 day. The Eagles got their only run of the day on a suicide squeeze by Marquise Gill, scoring Michael Mioduszewski. Other than Dennison and Mioduszewski, Ty Gilmore, John Rubino and Adam Sonabend recorded hits for the Green and White. Eastern also tied a season-best at the dish with three sacrifice hits to go along with a perfect performance in the field by completing an error-free game. Senior Sam Ott also saw his streak of reaching base end at 20 consecutive games.

WMU third baseman Grant Miller had the best day at the plate between the two in-state rivals, going 3-for-4 and scoring twice. Also collecting a pair of hits was Dan Shutes, who knocked in one run and crossed the plate once as well. On the rubber, Laudicina's fifth complete game of the year took just 97 pitches as the southpaw surrendered one run on six hits, striking out one without allowing a walk. Today's game was a completely different story from EMU's last game in which the Eagles were patient at the plate, walking 13 times throughout the extra-inning contest against Bowling Green, April 30.

EMU struck first in the top of the second when Mioduszewski smacked a single to left field. The Eagles' starting left fielder advanced to second on a sac bunt by Sonabend before scampering 90 feet closer to home on a base hit by Dennison. With runners on the corners, Gill laid down a perfect bunt to score Miodsuzewski as the play at the plate could not be made, allowing Gill to advance to first and moving Dennison to second base. Eastern's one-run advantage did not last long as WMU countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game at one apiece.

Sharp was in control throughout the game aside from a big three-run fourth inning by the Broncos. Western tallied four of its nine hits during that inning, including two doubles that plated all three runs. When the dust settled at the end of the fourth, the Eagles found themselves trailing, 4-1. The home team added one more run in the sixth, while Laudicina held the EMU bats in check for the four-run decision.

The Eagles will look to avenge the first loss of the series when they return to the diamond Saturday afternoon, May 3, to face the Broncos in game two of the rivalry weekend. First pitch from Homer Stryker Field is scheduled for 1 p.m. as senior southpaw Paul Schaak will take the mound for the Green and White. Meanwhile, Western is expected to counter with right-hander Chad Mayle.

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Team Stats

Adam Dennison

John Rubino

Mike Mioduszewski

Adam Sonabend

Eastern Michigan Athletics