YPSILANTI, Mich. - Central Michigan was unable to put Eastern Michigan away Sunday afternoon, giving up a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth as the Eagles walked off with an 8-7 victory to take the series.
Junior closer Dietrich Enns got the first two outs of the ninth inning for the Chippewas (15-21, 6-6 MAC) before the Eagles' (16-19, 7-5 MAC) leadoff hitter Ben Magsig came up with a single up the middle to put the tying run on the base paths.
Brent Ohrman then came to the plate and pulled a 1-0 pitch down the left field line and over the fence to complete the comeback and give the Maroon and Gold its second walk-off loss of the year.
The Chippewas were out in front after scoring four runs in the top of the third to take an early lead, including a three-run inside-the-park home run by Nate Theunissen. The senior hit a ball deep to center field and Ohrman ran into the wall, allowing Theunissen to round the bases for his 25th career home run.
The Eagles came right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit in half, 4-2, and pulled within one with a single run one inning later to chase junior Rick Dodridge from the game. The lefty finished the day allowing three runs - two earned - on five hits and four walks while fanning two over four innings of work.
EMU eventually took the lead, 6-4, with three unearned runs in the sixth off senior Ryan Longstreth.
The Maroon and Gold continued to battle however, bouncing right back with three runs in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead, 7-6. Theunissen singled up the middle with the bases loaded for his fourth and fifth RBI of the day before senior Tyler Hall scored on a wild pitch to give CMU the lead.
Theunissen finished the day 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI, while Hall and senior William Arnold each recorded a hit and scored twice in the game.
The loss puts the Chippewas two games back of the Eagles in the Mid-American Conference West Division. CMU will continue MAC play next weekend at Theunissen Stadium versus Kent State.
The Chippewas will play two midweek home games prior to their series versus Kent State, hosting Oakland Tuesday and Michigan State Wednesday. Both games will begin at 3:05 p.m.
