YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — The Eastern Michigan Eagles rallied from a four-run deficit with an eight-run eighth inning Friday to defeat the Ohio Bobcats 9-4 in a Mid-American Conference game at Oestrike Stadium.

Ohio led 4-0 through four innings behind a dominant start from right-hander Hunter Winston, who pitched six shutout innings, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out six. The Bobcats took the early lead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back solo home runs by left fielder Cameron Boyd and second baseman Will Henson. Boyd went deep to left field, and Henson followed with a homer to right. Ohio added a third run in the inning on a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Ty Stack that scored center fielder B. Alexander from third.

The Bobcats extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth when shortstop Harmon Rees singled to left-center, driving in third baseman Harris Tayl, who had reached on a walk and advanced to second on an error by Eastern Michigan shortstop C. Zirwas. The run was unearned. Eastern Michigan starter Cal Rutherford lasted four innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out none.

Eastern Michigan got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Nicholas Weaver doubled to left-center, moved to third on a flyout, and scored on a groundout by left fielder D. Sydlowski. The Eagles trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the eighth.

Winston was replaced by reliever Aiden Cook to start the seventh, and the game turned in the eighth. Cook faced one batter in the seventh and none in the eighth, but the Eagles erupted for eight runs on six hits and two walks. The inning began with a walk to right fielder TJ Will. After Zirwas struck out looking, first baseman Ty Stecko doubled to left-center, driving in Will. Center fielder T. Crane walked, and reliever D. Masters relieved Cook. Designated hitter Leewood Molessa doubled to left field, scoring Stecko and Crane to tie the game 4-4. Molessa advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored on a double by Weaver to left field, giving Eastern Michigan a 5-4 lead. A. Dallmayer replaced Masters. Third baseman T. Jellison singled to center, driving in Weaver for a 6-4 lead. Pinch runner E. Knupp replaced Jellison. Right fielder C. Hale reached on a fielder’s choice bunt, scoring Knupp and making it 7-4. Will singled to pitcher, loading the bases. After Zirwas flied out, Stecko singled to right field, driving in Sydlowski and Hale for an 9-4 lead.

Eastern Michigan’s bullpen held Ohio scoreless after the fifth. Thomas Rose pitched three innings of relief, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out two. Ethan Davis pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit and no runs with three strikeouts. Ohio managed eight hits total, with Boyd, Henson, Rees, Stack, B. Alexander, Ma Palinski, and Col Shirley each collecting one. Eastern Michigan had 11 hits, led by Weaver’s 3-for-4 performance with two doubles and an RBI. Stecko went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, and Molessa drove in two runs on a double.

The loss dropped Ohio’s record to 10-43 overall and 4-20 in the MAC. Eastern Michigan improved to 19-33 and 11-13. The Bobcats lost the previous game 4-0 Thursday in the series opener. The two teams meet again Saturday in the series finale.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Eastern Michigan 5, Ohio 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Eagles a 61.70 percent probability to win.