Baseball: OSU to Play Final Non-Conference Game

Ohio State sophomore Dan Burkhart pops up during the April 26 game against Northwestern. OSU lost 10-6. Photo by Christian Lautenschleger. CHRISTIAN LAUTENSCHLEGER/THE LANTERN Ohio State sophomore Dan Burkhart pops up during the April 26 game against Northwestern. OSU lost 10-6. The Ohio State baseball team will play its last non-conference game at noon Tuesday against Eastern Michigan. The game serves as a tune-up for the Buckeyes before they play a conference-deciding series against Iowa this weekend. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series with Eastern Michigan, 9-2. OSU has won four consecutive games since a 2-1 loss in 2004 at Bill Davis Stadium. Every game, including Tuesday's game, has been played at Bill Davis Stadium. OSU led the game in the second inning 10-0, but was unable to hold onto the lead. Chris Griffin singled in the seventh inning with the bases loaded for the go-ahead RBI. It was Griffin's first collegiate hit. Justin Miller had four hits and three RBIs and Eric Best got the win in relief, improving his record to 2-1. Alex Wimmers pitched the last two innings and struck out four batters to earn his third save of the 2008 season. EMU shortstop Jim Gulliver was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week Monday. Gulliver was 8-for-14 (.571) in five games last week. He had three home runs, nine runs scored, seven RBIs and he stole two bases. Gulliver helped the Eagles take two out of three at Toledo, May 8, 9 and 10. He was 4-for-5 in game one with two home runs, three runs scored and three RBIs. Both teams feature great offensive lineups. The Eagles have 175 extra base hits this season. Four players have at least 10 home runs for the Eagles and five players have at least 10 doubles. Matt Skirving (.355, 15 HRs, 55 RBI), Kyle Rhoad (.353, 30 SBs) and Gulliver (.345, 10 HRs, 48 RBI) lead the Eagle offense. Meanwhile the Buckeyes have 182 extra base hits in 2009. Ryan Dew (.393, 7HRs, 30 RBI), Dan Burkhart (.366, 9 HRs, 55 RBI) and Michael Stephens (.359, 11 HRs, 51 RBI) lead the OSU offense. Five Buckeyes have at least 10 doubles and four players have at least 45 RBIs. The Buckeyes are 3-5 in mid-week games this season. In those games, the Buckeyes are 3-3 when they are played at home.