The Eastern Michigan University baseball team wrapped up its five-game road trip with a loss against Ohio State University (19-13) by the score of 8-1, on Tuesday that left EMU winless for the trip.
The Eagles (10-19 overall, 1-8 Mid-American Conference) started the week on Wednesday with a loss to the University of Dayton (10-16) that was called off due to darkness after the seventh inning. EMU mounted a series rally, scoring all six of their runs in the last two innings, before falling 7-6.
John Rubino excelled for the Eagles, scoring twice and picking up two runs batted in. Sam Ott also contributed two hits and two runs batted in as well.
Tyler Russell (0-1), EMU’s starting pitcher for the game, took the loss in just under three innings work.
The week didn’t get better as Eastern played two games on Saturday against MAC opponent Ball State University (22-10), losing both games 20-5 and 7-3.
The Eagles had a solid hitting night in the first game, racking up 11 hits, but only scored five runs and the pitching couldn’t stop Ball State.
“We get behind (in the count) every hitter,” EMU coach Jay Alexander said. “When you get behind hitters, you give yourself no chance to have any success against great hitters.”
Ryan Lavoie (1-2) started the game for EMU and allowed nine runs off of nine hits and came out before the end of the second inning.
Relief pitcher Kristian Calibuso didn’t fare much better. He allowed nine runs, six hits and seven strikeouts in just over three innings.
Austin Wilson was the leadoff batter this time around and he struggled, striking out twice and getting just one hit with four at bats. He did have one RBI as well.
Rubino had another strong game for the Eagles going three-for-four.
The final score for the second game was much closer, but EMU was down 7-0 in the fifth inning, after a grand slam by Ball State right fielder Godfrey, before scoring one run in every inning, save the ninth, the rest of the way.
Each team got 10 hits in the game, but Eastern was unable to capitalize and had three errors to Ball State’s zero.
Pitcher Michael Marsinek (2-1) took his first loss of the season with his three innings work. Marsinek allowed four runs off of five hits, but only one run was earned.
Paul Schaak did good relief work after taking over in the fifth inning with one out. Schaak only allowed three hits and struck out six batters.
The series concluded Sunday afternoon with another Ball State victory 6-5 despite getting outhit by EMU 13-9.
Starting pitcher for the Eagles Jake Andrews pitched five excellent innings, allowing only two hits and three runs. He also struck out three batters.
EMU was held scoreless through the first six innings and faced a 5-0 deficit after relief pitcher Charlie Land (0-5) allowed three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Eagles scored five in the next two innings to tie the game at five apiece. Ott (3-4) picked up one run and three RBIs in the stretch to help EMU come back. Longo (2-5) also played decent getting one RBI.
The game was tied going into the ninth, but Godfrey struck again with the go-ahead double allowing Spaulding to score and to give EMU the loss.
The Eagles only mustered a run and three hits. Ott (2-4) accounted for two of those hits and scored the only run for Eastern.
Alexander praised OSU pitcher Farmer (5-3) for his performance and how he was able to control the Eagles’ hitting.
“He just got ahead of hitters,” Alexander said. “You get ahead of hitters and you put yourself in a better opportunity to get a hitter out and he did that very consistently.”
Tyler Russell, EMU’s relief pitcher, put in some good work for the Eagles, pitching four innings and only allowing five hits while striking out four.
“He dominated the strike zone and that’s what he’s really good at,” Alexander said.
EMU starting pitcher Sam Delaplane (0-1) pitched for three innings, giving up six hits and five runs, while walking three batters with only one strikeout.
Eastern follows this series up with a four-game home stand beginning with Siena Heights on Thursday. After that, they play a three game series against Northern Illinois University over the weekend that Alexander says is a must win weekend.
“We just got to find our groove,” Alexander said. “If we can do that, I like our chances. I still like my club and we just got to get it going.”
