YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Eastern Michigan defeated Ohio 4-0 on Thursday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium, earning a Mid-American Conference victory behind a strong pitching performance and timely hitting.

The Eagles improved to 18-33 overall while the Bobcats fell to 10-42.

Eastern Michigan starting pitcher John Carmichael worked six shutout innings, scattering eight hits while striking out five and walking two. He was relieved by Emmett Gillies, who pitched a scoreless seventh, Cole Egan who worked the eighth and Landon Mueller who closed out the ninth.

Ohio starter Mason Gass took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two. Dillon Masters relieved Gass in the fifth and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Landon Price finished the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering one hit.

The Bobcats managed eight hits but left seven runners on base and could not score despite putting two runners in scoring position in the first inning. Harris Tayl was hit by a pitch and Harmon Rees singled, then both stole second and third with one out, but a pop-up and a groundout ended the threat.

Eastern Michigan broke the scoreless tie in the third inning. TJ Will singled and Jake Zirwas walked to load the bases with one out. Ty Stecko then singled to left field, driving in two runs for a 2-0 lead. Stecko was thrown out trying to advance on a double play groundout to end the inning.

The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth. Zirwas bunted for a single and Stecko doubled through the left side to bring him home. Tristan Crane followed with an RBI single, scoring Stecko to make it 4-0. After a single by Lucas Molessa, Masters relieved Gass and walked Nolan Weaver to load the bases but escaped without further damage.

Ohio threatened again in the sixth when Alexander B singled with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning. The Bobcats put a runner on first in the seventh after Tayl was hit by a pitch, but a double play erased him. In the eighth, Ty Stack singled with two outs but Cam Bryant fouled out.

Eastern Michigan finished with 11 hits, led by Stecko who went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs. Crane had two hits and an RBI. TJ Will had two hits and scored a run. Hale, Weaver and Molessa each had two hits for the Eagles.

Cam Bryant led Ohio with two hits, including a single in the second and another in the fourth. Alexander B also had two hits for the Bobcats.

The game was the first of a three-game series. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at Oestrike Stadium.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Eastern Michigan 5, Ohio 2. Interstat’s ELO system had given the Eagles a 60.90 percent probability to win.