YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Demir Heidelberg’s two-run single capped a three-run eighth-inning rally to tie the game, and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Logan Crane in the bottom of the ninth completed the comeback as Eastern Michigan edged Youngstown State 8-7 in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Oestrike Stadium.

The Eagles, who trailed 7-1 after six and a half innings, scored seven unanswered runs over their final three at-bats to stun the Penguins. The win improved Eastern Michigan’s record to 7-17, while Youngstown State fell to 3-18.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Penguins holding a 7-4 lead. Facing Youngstown State reliever Gavin Almond, Eastern Michigan’s DJ Jones walked and Gabe Thigpen doubled to put runners on second and third. Crane’s sacrifice fly to center field scored Jones to make it 7-5. After TJ Williams walked and stole second, Heidelberg delivered the pivotal blow, lacing a single to left field that scored both Thigpen and Williams to knot the game at 7-7.

Youngstown State had built its lead behind a pair of solo home runs from catcher Teddy Ruffner and a three-hit, two-RBI performance from center fielder Brayden Kuriger. Ruffner homered in the third and again in the sixth inning. Kuriger’s RBI double in the fifth and RBI triple in the sixth were part of a three-run outburst that gave the Penguins a 6-1 advantage. A run scored on a wild pitch in the seventh extended the lead to 7-1.

Eastern Michigan began chipping away in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Crane was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Heidelberg followed with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 7-4, setting the stage for the late drama.

In the ninth, facing Youngstown State’s Sloan Ulrich, Eastern Michigan’s Cory Knupp led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. Jones then singled to move Knupp to third. After Jones stole second and Thigpen was intentionally walked to load the bases, Crane worked a full-count walk to force in Knupp with the winning run.

The comeback overshadowed a brilliant start by Youngstown State’s Luke Zmolik, who pitched four no-hit innings, allowing one unearned run with two strikeouts. Eastern Michigan’s bullpen combination of Aidan Norris, Jack Angus and Gregory Kennedy was crucial in the comeback, combining for three scoreless innings of relief with six strikeouts to keep the Eagles within reach.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had given Eastern Michigan a 64% probability to win with a predicted final score of 3-2.

Eastern Michigan finished with nine hits and utilized two sacrifice bunts. Youngstown State collected 11 hits but left 10 runners on base.

Eastern Michigan next hosts Central Michigan for a three-game series starting Friday. Youngstown State travels to face Northern Kentucky for a three-game set beginning the same day.