Eagles Clipped by Wildcats, 16-7

Box Score.

TUCSON, Ariz. (EMUEagles.com)— The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped a second straight decision to No. 7 University of Arizona, 16-7, Saturday evening, March 10, at Hi Corbett Field. The Eagles scored seven runs on 12 hits, but were outdone by the Wildcats, who had three innings of four-or-more runs.

The Eagles fall to 3-10, while the Wildcats improve to 12-2.

Steve Weber (1-2) took the loss, giving up 10 runs (six earned) in four innings of work. Wade Konner (3-0) struggled for Arizona but still ended up the winning pitcher, allowing seven runs (six earned) while giving up nine hits over five and one-thirds innings.

The Green and White recorded 12 hits in the game and were led by Matt Hitt, who was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Daniel Russell also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and two walks. Eight additional EMU players tallied one hit on the evening.

For the Wildcats, eight Arizona players had at least one RBI and were paced by Johnny Field in that category with four. Alex Mejia had a 4-for-5 performance at the dish and also scored four runs.

EMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Hitt smacked an RBI double down the left field line to plate Russell.

Arizona's offense pushed across five runs in the bottom of that frame to take a 5-1 lead. EMU appeared to be out of the inning with just a pair of runs against when Joey Rickard hit a ground ball to third base, but Ben Magsig misfired on a throw to first and the Wildcats scored three more times before the third out was made.

Eastern Michigan closed the gap to two, 6-4, in the fourth after loading the bases with nobody out. Tucker Rubino, Russell and Hitt all reached base to begin the inning. Adam Dennison singled in Rubino and Russell was thrown out at home on the play. Kinder then walked to reload the bases and Hitt then crossed home plate on a passed ball. Brent Ohrman grounded out and drove in Dennison form third base for the inning's third and final run.

Hopes of a quick comeback were short lived as Arizona added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth for an 11-4 advantage.

Russell continued his strong offensive display with a lead off triple in the sixth. Bo Kinder also notched a three-bagger and tallied two RBI. Kinder scored later in the inning on a Lucas Long wild pitch to cut the deficit to 11-7.

The Wildcats then scored four in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh to make it 16-7 for Arizona.

The final game of the series is slated for Sunday afternoon, March 11, at 11 a.m. MT.

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Team Stats

Matt Hitt

Daniel Russell

Bo Kinder

Brent Ohrman

Eastern Michigan Athletics