Baseball.NIU.Now!

Yes, hello EMU Athletics. Ravioli here, student assistant with the outstanding cast and crew at Sports Information with my first Blog.

Allow me to break the month and a half lull that has come over the EMU Sports Info Blog with some uncanny baseball commentary starting with a preview of this weekend's home series with the Huskies of Northern Illinois (the "Fightin' Husks")!

Corey Chaffins (2-2) looks to get the Eagles started off on the right track in this weekend tussle with his seventh start of the season. Chaffins leads the team in strikeouts with 36 and has only walked 16 batters through 36.2 innings of work. He'll go against... somebody... I don't have the lineup cards yet but I'm sure Chaffins will win anyways.

The "Super Fans" are already in full force today with just under an hour to go before game time. They account for roughly 94% of the crowd that has made its way in thus far. Props to them.

As a snack today I have brought sunflower seeds, an apple and a banana.

Anyways, predictions for today: EMU 4 : 2 NIU. Kyle Rhoad is due for a couple stolen bases (he's 20-for-21 on the year). I'm going solo today with StatCrew and all that good stuff for the first time today so wish me luck that I don't mess it up!

GO EAGLES!

~Ravioli

Final Score: Central Michigan 62, Eastern Michigan 49

Well that will about do it for this one from Cleveland, as Central Michigan takes home the 62-49 victory over Eastern Michigan Tuesday afternoon here in the FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament opener.

Things got a little "chippy" at the end with a technical fouls being whistled on both sides as emotions ran high between the two rivals.

The Eagles end the season at 8-24 overall and 6-10 in the league. The Chippewas (12-18, 7-9 MAC) will now square off versus second-seeded Ball State University Thursday, March 12, at noon. The game came be seen on Fox Sports Ohio and Fox Sports Detroit - check your local listings for exact channels.

Check EMUEagles.com for the complete recap - and check back tomorrow for action of the women's contest as they take on Miami Wednesday, March 11, at noon

Waning Moments in MAC Opener

A 7-0 run by Eastern cuts the deficit to six, 48-42, but a pair of free throws by CMU combined with an easy layup by Jacolby Hardiman makes the run for naught.

Justin Dobbins heads to the charity stripe for a pair with 5:02 to go - and its 52-44. However, Marcus Vans gets the hoop and the harm down on the other end to expand the advantage to 11 points.

Maybe I Spoke too Soon

Just as quick the CMU lead has ballooned back to 10 points, 43-33. The game has turned into the Robbie Harom show for the Chips, who now has 13 points with 9:26 still to go in the period.

Things Change Quickly...

After trailing by as many as nine points just moments ago, the Eagles have roared back on a 6-0 to pull withing three, 32-29, with 13:08 remaining. Bowdry shot from the top of the key as forces the Chippewas to use another timeout. Central burned the timeouts early to save possessions so CMU with only one remaining with a lot of time still to go.