Box Score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. —The Eastern Michigan University baseball team closed outthe rubber match of its weekend series against Ball State University with a 14-13 victory Sunday afternoon, May 3, here at Oestrike Stadium. The two teams battled into extra innings for a second consecutive day, this time combining for nine home runs, including a walk-off solo homer by sophomore Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) in the 10th to seal the series win.
The victory puts the Eagles at 17-30 (9-12 MAC), while the Cardinals fall to 21-21 (9-10 MAC) with the loss.
Leonard finished the game 2-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI in the win, while senior Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) belted a pair of long balls, including a grand slam in the seventh inning. Powell finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a game-high five RBI.
The Eagles were down 6-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning until a six-run effort provided the Green and White with its first lead of the game, 8-6. Matt Skirving (Midland, Mich.-H.H. Dow) got the scoring started with a two-RBI single which plated Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) and WallyGerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Baden). Todd Graves (St. Mary's Ohio- St. Mary's Memorial) then belted a three run home, giving him eight on the year. With two down, Aaron Powell went yard for his seventh of the year.
In the seventh, Powell connected for his second homer of the game, a grand slam, to put the Eagles ahead by six, 13-7.
EMU was seemingly in control of the contest until BSU responded with four runs of its own in the top of the eighth to pull to within two, 13-11. In the ninth with senior pitcher Kevin Wammes (Fremont, Ohio-St. Joesph) on the mound the Cardinals evened the score at 13-all thanks to a bunt by Nate Fields.
Freshman pitcher Kendall Lewis (Huntsville, Ohio-Indian Lake) came in the game in relief to earn the victory for the Eagles, his third of the season, putting his record at 3-4 this season.
The Eagles are back in action Tuesday, May 5, when they travel to Rochester, Mich. for a non-conference doubleheader against Oakland University. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.