The Eastern Michigan University men’s baseball team beat the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies on Monday afternoon by a score of 11-10 in a game that went to 13 innings after a rain delay.
Center-fielder turned relief pitcher Austin Wilson (1-1) tallied his first collegiate win on Monday, pitching two innings and giving up no hits or runs, while striking out three Oakland University batters.
Starting pitcher Augie Gallardo (1-2) pitched three and one-third innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out two batters. Eastern Michigan pitched six pitchers on Monday, with Kyle Huckaby, Michael Marsinek, Devon Bronson and Matthew Beaton also making appearances on the mound.
The game started off with two runs being scored by the Golden Grizzlies in the top of the first inning, but unlike in recent match-ups the Eagles responded with runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
John Montgomery advanced to second base on a balk, which allowed left fielder Luke Devenney to cross the plate, cutting Oakland’s lead in half with a score of 2-1 going into the second inning.
Oakland was held run less, and the Eagles took advantage of the opportunity with a David Lett single that went up the middle and scored Austin Wilson to tie the game. The third inning saw no runs scored by either team.
In the fourth inning the Golden Grizzlies scored three runs to pull ahead, after a double moved runners into position and a sacrifice fly-ball would score a runner to close out the top of the third, bringing the score to 5-2.
The Eagles then responded when Adam Dennison stole second base, allowing Mike Mioduszewski to steal third, and when a wild throw couldn’t be handled by Golden Grizzlies catcher Matt DiLeo, Mioduszewski took home and brought the score to 5-3 in favor of Oakland.
The fifth and sixth innings saw Oakland University score two more runs but the Eagles couldn’t score any runs for themselves and the Golden Grizzlies went up 7-3.
The seventh inning was scoreless for both Oakland University and Eastern Michigan University.
Oakland may have scored one run in the top of the eighth inning, but it was the Eagles that exploded for six runs in the bottom of the same inning. The first run was scored when John Rubino tripled to right field, allowing Devenney to score.
John Montgomery then singles to left field, which allowed Rubino to score. Next, Dennison singled to the right side, moving runners into scoring position and scoring Montgomery to bring the score to 7-5.
David Lett then doubled to right field, scoring Wilson, Dennison and Martin to take the lead with a score of 9-8.
The top of the ninth inning saw Oakland University score a run to tie the game and force extra innings.
Two innings later Oakland University was able to take the lead again after Matt Dileo singled to right field, earning another RBI and putting the Golden Grizzlies up 10-9.
But the Eagles had a respond of their own, when John Rubino was able to reach base with one out in the bottom of the 11th. Justin Peterson then hit a fly ball to left field, which was caught, but Rubino’s speed allowed him to cross the plate, once again tying the game. The score after 11 innings was 10-10.
The 12th inning was uneventful, but Wilson and the Eagles were able to hold Oakland scoreless in the top of the 13th, setting up a chance at victory in the bottom of the inning.
Pitching was the downfall for the Golden Grizzlies at the end of the game. With bases loaded the Eagles pinch hitter Tony DiLeo was walked, which brought in Devenney to bring the game to 11-10 and ending the game.
Eastern Michigan earned 13 hits as compared to Oakland’s 16 hits on Monday afternoon.
Left fielder Luke Devenney went 3-for-7 at the plate, while David Lett earned three RBI’s and went 2-for-6.
Stolen base record leader John Rubino stole two more bases on the afternoon, while Devenney, Kennedy, Mioduszewski, Martin, Dennison and Lett also swiped bases.
Monday’s meeting between Oakland and Eastern Michigan lasted almost seven hours because of rain delays and extra innings.
Looking Forward:
On Tuesday, Eastern Michigan will travel to Ann Arbor to take on the University of Michigan, which holds a record of 31-21 and a BIGTEN conference record of 14-10. This game also has no MAC Tournament implications for the Eagles.
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Follow Robert Sherman on Twitter: @r__sherman
