Rubino’s Five Hits Lead Eagles Past Michigan, 4-2

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a season-high five-hit performance from John Rubino, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning to defeat the University of Michigan by a final score of 4-2 at the Wilpon Complex Wednesday, April 15. The victory was the eighth in the last nine meetings over the Eagles' Washtenaw County rival.

The Eagles collected ten hits in the contest, led by Rubino's second career five-hit performance. Rubino scored and drove in a pair of runs while also stealing a career-high four bases. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native now has a team-best 19 stolen bases on the season. John Montgomery finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and two RBI. Luke DeVenney, David Lett, and Jordan Peterson picked up the other three base hits for the Green and White. Carmen Benedetti paced the Wolverines offense, going 2-for-4 with one run driven in.

Sophomore Sam Delaplane (3-1) recorded the final out in the eighth inning before pitching a scoreless ninth to close out the two-run victory. Freshman Kyle Huckaby got the start for the Green and White, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out two in 3.0+ innings pitched. Augie Gallardo, Michael Marsinek, and Matthew Beaton also made appearances out of the bullpen for Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde. Cam Wysocki (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Maize and Blue.

Montgomery's two-out double to right field in the first inning scored Rubino to give the Green and White an early 1-0 lead. Rubino reached base on an infield single and moved into scoring position on his first stolen base of the game.

EMU extended its lead out to 2-0 following another extra base hit off the bat of Montgomery in the third inning. This time the sophomore roped a triple off the wall in right field, scoring Rubino who reached base on his second hit of the game and moved up 90-feet on another stolen base.

The Wolverines got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Beneditti chopped one through the right side scoring Jake Bivens to trim the Eagles lead down to one, 2-1.

After a scoreless fifth inning, U-M knotted the score at two runs apiece in the bottom of the sixth as Johnny Slater came around to touch home on a double-play ball. Slater led off the frame with a double and moved to third on a single off the bat of Kyle Jusick.

The game remained deadlocked at 2-2, until the ninth inning. Following an infield single from Lett and a double off the bat Peterson, Rubino delivered his biggest hit of the game. The senior belted a two-run triple over the centerfielder's head to give the Eagles a two-run lead.

Delaplane remained on the mound to close out the game, getting the Wolverines to go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win.

Eastern Michigan returns to Oestrike Stadium following five straight road games, as the Eagles host Ball State University for a Mid-American Conference series beginning Friday, April 17. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Fans that cannot attend the game can listen live on the airwaves of Eagle All-Access free of charge with coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m.

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Team Stats

John Rubino

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

Luke DeVenney

Players Mentioned

Matthew Beaton

Sam Delaplane

Luke DeVenney

Augie Gallardo

Kyle Huckaby

David Lett

Michael Marsinek

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Players Mentioned

Matthew Beaton

Sam Delaplane

Luke DeVenney

Augie Gallardo

Kyle Huckaby

David Lett

Michael Marsinek

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Eastern Michigan Athletics