EMU Baseball Drops Series Opener to Ohio, 5-0

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – On a night when the Eastern Michigan University baseball team honored the late Ron Oestrike, the Eagles dropped a 4-0 decision to Ohio University Friday evening, May 8, at Oestrike Stadium. The game was delayed in the seventh inning for two hours due to lightning and rain in the Ypsilanti area. The Bobcats improve to 28-18 on the season and 13-9 in conference play while the Eagles fall to 18-30 overall and 8-14 in the MAC.

The Eagles collected six hits in the game, led by a two-hit performance from sophomore John Montgomery. Jordan Peterson, John Rubino, Adam Dennison, and Mitchell McGeein also reached base via a base knock for the Green and White. Rubino's third inning single made it 23 straight games the senior had reached base. The 23-game reached base streak is a new high for the Eagles this year as McGeein had a 22-game reached base streak earlier in the season. Mitch Longo led the Bobcat offense, going 2-for-4 including a two-run homer.

Senior Charlie Land took the loss on the mound for the Green and White in his 12th start of the season. Land (3-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings while striking out one. Jake Miller was solid in his sixth start of the season for the Bobcats. Miller's (3-3) night was shortened due to the delay, but the junior tossed a scoreless six innings, allowing six hits while striking out a pair. Logan Cozart picked up a three-inning save for Ohio.

The Bobcats took an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning on the strength of Longo's fifth home run of the season over the wall in right field. Ohio added another run in the top of the second as Ty Black came around to score on a wild pitch after being hit by a pitch earlier in the frame.

Eastern's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth inning as two one-out singles from Dennison and McGeein put a pair of Eagles on base. Miller, however, was able to get a fly out and a pick off to end the Green and White's threat.

After both teams were held scoreless over the next three innings, the Bobcats tacked on a run in the top of the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. John Adryan drove in Tyler Wells who doubled in the previous at-bat to give the Bobcats a four-run advantage.

Following a leadoff walk to McGeein to begin the bottom of the seventh, the game was halted due to lightning in the area. The game was delayed for two hours before the teams picked back up. After retiring the Eagles in the seventh, the Bobcats scored a run in the top of the eighth to grab a 5-0 lead.

Cozart slammed the door for the Bobcats as the senior did not allow a hit in the final three innings. The right-hander recorded his 10th save of the season which sets a new program record for Ohio.

The Eagles and Bobcats continue the Mid-American Conference series Saturday, May 9, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. The game is part of Little League Appreciation Day at Oestrike Stadium, where little leaguers from the Ypsi-Arbor Little League Association will spend an afternoon at the ballpark.

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Team Stats

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Adam Dennison

Players Mentioned

Adam Dennison

Charlie Land

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Players Mentioned

Adam Dennison

Charlie Land

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

John Rubino

Eastern Michigan Athletics