Trailing by one going into the sixth inning, the Eastern Michigan Eagles mounted a comeback, scoring three runs in the last four innings to knock off Michigan State University, 4-2.
EMU’s pitching was the strong point once again, allowing only five hits and one earned run. Starter Brent Mattson pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three hits and an earned run. Sam Delaplane and Michael Marsinek would finish the game for the Eagles, combining to pitch the remaining innings. Marsinek would get his first win and Delaplane notched his second save of the season.
Catcher Tony DiLeo led the Eagles offense, batting 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Jeremy Stidham would also hit a homer, his fifth of the season and fourth in the last six games.
MSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, scoring two runs off two hits. They scored their first after a line drive down the first base line and a double. MSU scored the second off a sacrifice bunt and passed ball.
EMU got one back in the third with a home run from DiLeo, his first of the season and third of his career. After allowing two runs in the first, Mattson followed up by going the next four innings without a hit, keeping the MSU lead at one.
EMU evened up the score in the sixth with Stidham blasting a homer, his fifth of the season, over the left field fence. Mattson’s no-hit streak would end in the sixth, giving up a single to right field. After a steal and an error, runners were on first and third with two outs and coach Mark Van Ameyde pulled Mattson. Marsinek would take the mound, ending the threat with a pop-out to second base.
John Montgomery hit a single to center and stole second to begin the seventh and DiLeo would hit a double to bring him in, giving EMU a 3-2 lead. After a scoreless inning from Marsinek, the Eagles would take a 4-2 lead in the eighth. McGeein would be walked and Mioduszewski hit a double to bring in McGeein.
MSU posed a threat in the bottom of the eighth. With Delaplane now pitching, he loaded up the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out. But he forced a groundout and a strikeout to keep the lead heading into the final inning.
After a one hit inning from the Eagles, Delaplane would send MSU down with two groundouts and a pop fly to end the game.
The Eagles will continue this non-conference road trip with a trip down to Morgantown, West Virginia to play the Mountaineers of West Virginia.
