MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team rallied from down 1-0 in the seventh inning to take down Central Michigan University, 3-1, in Mid-American Conference action Friday, May 5, at Theunissen Stadium.

Senior Nick Chittum (Grosse Ile, Mich.-Grosse Ile) (3-4) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Eastern Michigan (22-21, 8-14 MAC). The right-hander went 2.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing one walk and striking out one. Senior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, starting the ballgame and throwing 6.1 innings, giving up one run on six hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Senior Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and an RBI. Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with two RBI. Junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville) also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Eastern Michigan with a double.

KENT- The Flashes used a four-run first and seven shutout innings from Ben Cruikshank in a 5-0 victory over Western Michigan at a sold-out Schoonover Stadium on Friday night.

Kent State got the first four runners on against Western Michigan's Brady Miller. Collin Mathews got hit by a pitch and Justin Miknis added a single. Aidan Longwell and Michael McNamara followed with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-0, a Miller balk brought home McNamara and made it a four-run fourth.

That was more than enough for Cruikshank. The lefty was phenomenal, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and a couple of walks while striking out six. Three runners reached scoring position against the pitcher lovingly called Bones and only one reached third. Jordan Kolenda worked a pair of clean innings in the eighth and the ninth to preserve the shutout and a program-record win number 20 at Schoonover Stadium.

The victory sends 10 graduates off with a victory. Kent State honored the 2023 graduating class in a pre-game ceremony. The win moves Kent State to 32-13 on the season and 17-5 in MAC play, Western drops to 16-25 overall and 13-8 in conference. The two teams will do it again on Saturday for a 3 p.m. first pitch.

DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Brayden White's two-run single in the top of the 10th inning broke a 2-2 stalemate and sparked a three-run outburst which proved to be enough to give the Toledo baseball team a 5-2 win at Northern Illinois on Friday.

The Rockets (21-24, 9-13 MAC) scored a couple in the first inning and held the Huskies scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. NIU scored two runs in that inning to tie the game at 2-2. Northern Illinois threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with one out, but a failed squeeze bunt resulted in a fortuitous double play to send the game to extras.

"That was a good win today in some less than ideal conditions," head coach Rob Reinstetle said. "It was a tough day to hit with a stiff wind blowing straight in. We crushed some balls that went nowhere. The offense did what we needed to do to find ways to score. What has to happen on a day like today is you have to pitch well and we did that. Jack Walker gave us a quality start getting into the sixth inning, and Cal McAninch and Kyle Pijaszek took it from there and finished the game off. With the wind conditions expected like this all weekend, we'll need to continue to find ways to score and get good pitching."

White led the charge offensively with a 3-for-5 performance and three RBIs. Junior Jeron Williams went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. The Archbold, Ohio native brought his season total to 42 thefts, already a school record and eight away from tying the Mid-American Conference record for single-season stolen bases.

Senior Mason Sykes had a good day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, and freshman Wesley Parker also drove in a run to help the cause.

Junior Jack Walker made the start and struck out four in 5.1 innings of work. Senior Cal McAninch and junior Kyle Pijaszek were both strong out of the bullpen.

Game two of the three-game series is set for a 2:00 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team returned to the road for a Mid-American Conference series at Ohio on Friday. Adam Tellier led the team with a home run as the Cardinals win game one of the series 5-3.
 
With the win, Ball State improved to 29-15 overall and 16-6 in league games, while Ohio fell to 16-25 overall and 13-10 in MAC play.
 
With one out in the top first, Tellier launched a solo shot over the left center field wall and put the Cardinals on the board. BSU took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first.
 
Tellier got things started in the top of the third with a single up the middle. Ryan Peltier followed with a single the bounced off an outstretched third baseman. Decker Scheffler produced an RBI single to right field as Tellier scored from second.
 
Ohio tied the game at 2-2 with two hits and two Ball State errors.
 
Peltier led off the top of the sixth with a triple off the center field wall. Scheffler grounded out to second and drove in Peltier from third. Ball State took a 3-2 lead after the top of the sixth.
 
Mason Minzey tied the game with a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Tellier led off the inning with a single to center field. Peltier followed with a double off the right field wall that allowed Tellier to score from first. Scheffler dropped down a sac bunt and moved Peltier to third. Blake Bevis recorded a sac bunt on a squeeze as Peltier scored from third. The Cardinals took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
 
Trennor O'Donnell got the start on the mound for Ball State and went 5 2/3 innings in the no decision. He struck out three batters and surrendered two runs, only one earned, on two hits. Sam Klein picked up his fifth win of the season and improved to 5-1. He went 3 1/3 innings in relief with one strikeout. He surrendered one earned run on just one hit.
 
Tellier and Peltier each produced three-hit games. The dynamic duo combined to score all five of BSU's runs. Scheffler led the team with a two-RBI game.
 
Dillon Masters got the nod on the hill for Ohio and went seven innings. He surrendered three earned runs on six hits and struck out four batters. Braxton Kelly closed out the game with two innings of relief. He gave up two earned runs on three hits.
 
The Cardinals and Bobcats return to Bob Wren Stadium for the final two games on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m.