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Eden goes the distance as Leathernecks top Oakland 6-1 in Summit opener

July 5, 2008 on 9:55 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - Eric Eden threw a complete game, leading Western Illinois to a 6-1 victory over Oakland to start play in the Summit League at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium, Friday afternoon.

The Leathernecks (7-14, 1-0 The Summit League) struggled early on to figure out the Golden Grizzlies’ (2-12, 0-1 The Summit League) starter Mike Takashima. Western took advantage of a couple miscues in the bottom of the sixth to grab the lead. Drew Laidig and Cooper Stewart drew back-to-back one-out walks. Laidig stole third, allowing Stewart to move up 90-feet as well. A pass ball tied the game at 1-1. With Stewart on third, T.J. Kistner got a ground ball back up the middle to give the Leathernecks a 2-1 advantage.

A one-out walk again was prosperous for Western as Jared Wolf drew one in the sixth inning. After Wolf stole second, pinch-hitter Brett Pendell laid down a bunt single. The throw got away from the first baseman and allowed Wolf to come home.

In the eighth inning, the Leathernecks got a pair of insurance runs. After Kistner was hit by a pitch, Tyler Metcalf and Dan Johnson drew walks. Kyle Surprenant doubled deep to center field, bringing in Kistner and Metcalf, making it 6-1.

“As usual, pitching and defense wins for us, but today was the first time that we came back in the later innings,” said Western Illinois head coach Stan Hyman. “Scoring in our the last three innings is a great sign.”

Eden gave up the lone run of the game for Oakland on a solo home run by Dan Ryan with two outs in the fourth.

“After that home run I relied on my team to pick me up again,” said Eden. “You just have to keep hitting your spots and not let it rattle you too much out there. I’m just glad the coaches have the confidence in me to leave me out there.”

The junior from Hillsborough, N.J., went the distance, allowing one earned run on five total hits. He struck out four batters while walking three, improving his record to 3-2 on the year.

“He was hitting his spots really well,” Hyman said of his starter. “I thought he was getting squeezed a little but he was in total control. We need a bulldog to go out there in the first game of these series and eat up some innings. Even though his velocity was down a little in the later innings, we decided that as long as was hitting his spots we would leave him in.”

Behind him, Eden had strong support defensively late in the game as each infielder came up with big plays.

“Defensively, Laidig and Johnson made great plays,” Hyman said of the defense. “Metcalf bodied up on a hard hit ground ball and made a good play. Surprenant came through with some great plays out there too. When he plays well in conference, the team plays well in conference.”

Surprenant complemented some strong defensive plays with a two-hit performance at the plate.

“To win the opener is very important every year,” added Hyman. “It’s the second season for us right now. There are 28 games that you really have to care about on the year, and we got the first one in our pocket today.”

The Leathernecks and Golden Grizzlies continue Summit League action tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon.
Originaly from Source