After losing the opening two games of the series to Ball State in Friday’s doubleheader, Eastern Michigan’s baseball team looked poised to end the weekend on a high note and get back into the win column in the Sunday matinee at Oestrike Stadium.
Then, the ninth inning happened.
Heading into the final frame, the Eagles held a two-run lead. However, the green and white gave up six unanswered runs, including a three-run homer to the Cardinals, and ultimately failed to respond in the bottom of the inning, losing 9-5 in their fourth straight defeat of the campaign.
Eastern Michigan held control for much of the outing at home, getting out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning thanks to runs scored courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Bruce Jellison from Hartland, Michigan, and a two-run homer from Ty Stecko from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, his seventh of the season.
Stecko led the offense for the home team on the day, going two-for-three at the plate with his aforementioned home run, two RBIs, an additional hit, and a walk to boot.
Tyler Kapa from Waterford, Michigan, controlled the game on the mound for the Eagles in the early going, holding Ball State scoreless through the opening four innings and striking out six in the process before giving up three earned runs in the fifth frame that allowed the Cardinals to tie the game, 3-3.
Eastern Michigan responded valiantly, however - with runs in the sixth and seventh innings from Jellison and Devin Zirwas, hailing from Imperial, Pennsylvania, respectively, to put the home team up 5-3 heading into the final frame.
Heading into the day, the Eagles had only allowed seven runs in the ninth inning all season. This time around, however, they allowed six.
With the win, Ball State improved to 23-10 (10-2 MAC) for the year, while Eastern Michigan fell to 13-15 (8-7 MAC) after losing four straight games.
Next week, the Eagles remain at home and hope to rebound with a critical series against Toledo from April 11 to 13. Viewers can catch the first game at Oestrike Stadium versus the Rockets on Friday, April 11, at noon.
