Baseball Ends Spring Break Swing with Loss to Milwaukee

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team couldn't overcome an early deficit in a 15-4 eight inning loss to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Monday, Feb. 27, at the RussMat Invite at Chain of Lakes Park. The Panthers (4-3) tallied nine runs in the first three innings to put the game out of reach for EMU (2-8).

EMU did all of its damage in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. Senior Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) notched a 2-for-4 day with his first triple of the season and a run scored. Sophomore Robert Iacobelli (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) also tallied the first two RBI's of his EMU career on a two-run pinch-hit single in that fifth frame. Freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) had a pinch-hit extra bagger as well with an RBI double.

The Panthers struck first in the first inning, getting a pair of two-out unearned runs to lead it 2-0 after the first inning. They capitalized on five hits and an EMU miscue to score five more in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead after two. Two more runs crossed the plate in the third on a pair of two-out hits, making it 9-0 after just three frames.

Eastern pitched a clean inning in the fourth, leading to their only offensive output of the contest in the fifth. Stidham got things started, blasting his first triple of the season. After a walk, freshman Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) drove in the first runner with a single. Following a fielder's choice and a pop out, EMU went to a pinch hitter off the bench to spark the offense. Peggs delivered that spark, notching his first career double to knock in another, making the score 9-2.

Another pinch hitter, Iacobelli, came through as well on the very next at-bat with two more RBI's on a single. After five innings, EMU was right back in it, 9-4. Junior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic), who entered in the fourth, retired his ninth straight batter in the sixth to maintain the five-run deficit into the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers finally answered back with four more runs on four hits to put the game at a 13-4 tally with just two innings remaining. UWM ended the game in the eighth when a two-run home run triggered the tournament's 10-run mercy rule, making the final 15-4 after eight innings.

The Eagles now return home briefly before heading back on the road next weekend for a three-game series against No. 6 Louisville. The first game against the Cardinals is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch Friday, March 3.

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Team Stats

Jeremy Stidham

Drake Lubin

Drake Peggs

Robert Iacobelli

Players Mentioned

Luke DeVenney

Devin Hager

Robert Iacobelli

Drake Peggs

Jeremy Stidham

Players Mentioned

Luke DeVenney

Devin Hager

Robert Iacobelli

Drake Peggs

Jeremy Stidham

Eastern Michigan Athletics