Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Ohio
Baseball Takes Series Finale
4/16/2006 8:19:26 PM | Baseball
ATHENS, Ohio - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team survived a late rally by Ohio University for a 9-7 victory here on Easter Saturday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium. With the win, EMU took the weekend series two games to one and moves back to the .500 mark with a 16-16 record (7-5 MAC).
The game turned out to be a slugfest as both teams accounted for a combined 25 hits and 16 total runs scored. The Eagles were led by sophomore Josh Ivan and senior Isaiah Gainforth. Ivan tallied a clutch single in the ninth driving in two game winning runs while going 2-for-5 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Gainforth also went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Freshman pitcher Sean Hoffman (1-0) picked up his first career win in a relief role going 2.2 innings with one strikeout, five scattered hits while allowing three runs.
Sophomore Kirk Payne went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the Bobcats (12-15, 5-6 MAC) while freshman pitcher Kurt Smith picked up his third loss of the season going 5.0 innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits.
Eastern took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of an Ohio miscue as Steve Bradshaw reached on a fielding error scoring Jeff Hehr and Ivan.
The Eagles struck again in the fourth inning as Matt Moffett walked and Gainforth reached on a throwing error. Brian Blackburn singled to center field to drive in Moffett with Gainforth later scoring on a throwing error by the Ohio second baseman for a 4-0 Eagle lead.
EMU pushed its lead to 6-0 in the top of the fifth as Gainforth singled to center field to drive in Kyle Rhoad and Bradshaw. Ohio responded to cut the Eagle lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth with two runs on three hits.
In the sixth, Bradshaw singled to plate Ivan and give EMU a 7-2 lead but Ohio once again answered in the bottom of the frame as Payne doubled to drive in two more runs and cut the lead to 7-4.
Ohio’s completed its comeback in the seventh inning as the Bobcats scored three runs on four hits to tie the score at 7-7. However, EMU took the lead for good in the top of the ninth as Ivan singled up the middle to score Mike Boyd and Gainforth to secure the 9-7 victory.
EMU begins an 11 game home stand as Oakland University comes to Oestrike Stadium, Tuesday, April 18, at 6 p.m.
