Baseball Drops Series Opener to NIU

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team kicked-off a three-game Mid-American Conference weekend series here Friday evening, April 24, with a 5-2 loss to Northern Illinois University at Oestrike Stadium.

The Eagles fall to 12-28 and 5-11 in the MAC, while NIU improves to 15-23 and 6-9 in the MAC.

Junior shortstop Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) led the way for EMU offensively, going 3-for-5 on the day with one RBI. Senior Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) also recorded his 21st stolen base of the season in 22 attempts.

Sophomore Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) (2-3) took the loss in the contest, giving up eight hits, five earned runs, and notching eight strikeouts. NIU's while Chuck Lukanen evened up his record at 5-5 on the year, pitching eight and a third innings, while scattering eight hits and allowing two earned runs. He also fanned 10 Eagle batters en route to the win.

Down 1-0 in the first inning, senior Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) connected for an RBI single to tie the game at one. The Huskies answered in the top of the second with a solo blast from Matt Behren to make it a 2-1 game.

In the third, Behren teed-off again against Chaffins, this time launching a two-run homer to left field to increase the Huskies' lead to 4-1. Behren finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Chaffins then settled in and posted a strong performance until the seventh inning, when the sophomore hurler surrendered his third long ball of the game, giving the Huskies a 5-1 advantage.

The Green and White were unable to muster any further offense until the ninth inning, when a Gulliver single plated redshirt freshman Wally Gerbus (Fairfield, Ohio-Stephen T. Baden) to cut the Huskies' lead to 5-2. The late-game rally would fall short, however, as the Eagles went down by that same score.

The middle game of the series is slated for Saturday, April 25, at 2:05 p.m, with the finale set for Sunday, April 26, at 1:05 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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