Eagles Drop 5-2 Decision to Ball State in Series Opener

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a complete game performance from Ball State's Zach Plesac, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped the Mid-American Conference weekend series opener to Ball State University by a final score of 5-2 on Friday night, April 17 at Oestrike Stadium. The loss drops the Eagles to 14-24 overall and 4-9 in MAC play while the victory improves Ball State to 24-12 on the season with a 9-4 mark in conference play.

Mitchell McGeein, John Montgomery, and David Lett all finished with a pair of hits in the contest. Lett drove in Tony DiLeo for the Eagles only RBI. Jordan Peterson, John Rubino, Tony DiLeo, and Brennan Williams also reached base via a base knock for the Green and White. DiLeo was solid behind the dish as well, throwing out three potential base stealers. Ball State was led offensively by Elbert Devarie who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Sean Kennedy drove in two of the five runs for the Cardinals.

Senior Charlie Land took the loss on the hill for the Green and White. Land (2-6) gave up five runs on seven hits and six walks in just 3.1 innings pitched while striking out three. Freshman Brent Mattson was solid in relief for Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde, pitching a scoreless 4.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts. The Preseason All-American selection in Plesac tossed his fourth complete game of the season for the Cardinals. Plesac (3-2) allowed two runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts in the effort.

The Cardinals raced out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Ball State sent eight batters to the plate, using three hits, two walks, and a wild pitch to put the first three runs on the board.

Ball State added two more runs in the top of the fourth, extending its lead out to 4-0. Matt Eppers and Devarie each tripled and scored in the inning for the Cardinals.

The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Cardinal lead down to four, 5-1. DiLeo led off the frame with a single through the left side and then moved up to third base on a pair of groundouts. Lett brought in DiLeo with a two-out infield single to second base for the Eagles first run. Following a double from Peterson in the ensuing at-bat to put runners on second and third, Rubino laced one into the left center field gap but it was caught to end the threat.

Devon Bronson worked out of a base loaded jam in the top of the ninth to keep it a four-run game heading to the bottom of the ninth. McGeein and Montgomery singled to begin the final inning, but the Eagles' third double play of the contest put two outs on the board for BSU. McGeein came around to touch home on a wild pitch but it was all the Eagles could get as Plesac closed the door to preserve the 5-2 victory for Ball State.

The Eagles and Cardinals will now play a doubleheader tomorrow, April 18, beginning at 2 p.m. Rain is forecasted for the Ypsilanti area on Sunday, forcing the two teams to play a pair of nine-inning contests tomorrow at Oestrike Stadium. Both games will still broadcasted live on the airwaves of Eagle All-Access free of charge with coverage beginning at 1:50 p.m.

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Team Stats

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

David Lett

Jordan Peterson

Players Mentioned

Devon Bronson

Tony DiLeo

Charlie Land

David Lett

Brent Mattson

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Brennan Williams

Players Mentioned

Devon Bronson

Tony DiLeo

Charlie Land

David Lett

Brent Mattson

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Brennan Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics