Wild win sets up title chance for Eastern Michigan baseball team
The Eastern Michigan baseball team took a half-game lead in the Mid-American Conference standings with an 11-10, 14-inning win over Central Michigan on Thursday.
The Eagles need one win in the final two games of the series against CMU to clinch their first MAC West title since 2008. The teams play at 3 p.m. today and 1 p.m. Saturday at Oestrike Field.
An RBI double by Kyle Peterson in the bottom of the 14th inning was the game-winner on Thursday.
The Eagles overcame four deficits during the game and their seventh pitcher, Brian Valente, earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief.
Shortstop Tucker Rubino went 4-for-7 with three RBIs and a run scored for Eastern (34-18, 16-8). His two-run double in the bottom of the ninth forced extra innings. (Boxscore)
Nate Theunissen (2-for-3, 2 runs) had a two-run single in a five-run eighth inning that put the Chippewas (27-25, 15-9) ahead 8-6.
The expected pitching matchup for today's game matches Eastern's Joe Battistelli (6-2, 3.59 ERA) against Central's Zach Cooper (5-3, 3.27).