The Eastern Michigan baseball team fell to Oakland, 10-9, at the Oakland Baseball Field in Rochester, MI on Wednesday, April 10. After falling down 5-0, the Eagles came back to take a lead on two separate occasions before allowing a walk-off single. Eastern Michigan is just 4-6 in their last 10 games.
Tyler Koons started the game for EMU and gave up five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Drew Demumbrum got the scoring started for Oakland with a single to left field which brought in Myles Zilinsky. Ryan Fitzgerald put the Grizzlies up 2-0, before going on to add three more runs. Koons would remain in the game.
Eastern Michigan would answer back, though, with five runs of their own in the top of the third inning. Nick Jones cut into Oakland by hitting a single to center, which scored Jeff Timko. Jared Kauffman hit a single of his own to score Zachary Owings. Jones and Kauffman would reach home plate later in the inning to tie the game at 5-5. The Eagles would jump into the lead in the fifth inning as Kauffman would score his second fun of the game.
The Grizzlies continued to put pressure on EMU as they retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Blake Griffith tied the game with a single and then Matt Dileo scored on a wild pitch. Both teams would score one run each in the sixth inning as Oakland held an 8-7 advantage going to the top of the seventh inning.
Eastern Michigan found themselves in the lead again, going up 9-8, due to Devin Hager singling and coming around to score. The Eagles failed to hang onto their lead, though, as Dileo tied the game in the ninth inning before Ronnie Krslovic singled to right field to win the game.
It was another close loss for the Eagles, who have made a habit of doing so this season. Koons gave up seven hits and five earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched but Thomas House took the loss after giving up two runs in 3.2 innings. House is now 0-3 on the year. Ethan Hoffman earned the win for Oakland, improving to 2-0.
Dielo had a team-high three runs scored and one hit for the Grizzlies while Kauffman finished with two hits, two runs and one RBI for EMU.
Eric Roof and his players weren’t available for comment following the loss.
Eastern Michigan will travel to Muncie, Indiana for a three-game series against Ball State beginning on Friday, April 12. The Eagles are currently 2-6 in conference play.
