ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections, the Eastern Michigan Eagles outlasted the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 11-10 in 10 innings on Wednesday evening at Oakland University Baseball Field.

The game, which featured 29 combined hits and multiple lead changes, was ultimately decided in the top of the 10th. Eastern Michigan’s Sam Jellison was hit by a pitch from Oakland reliever Tagertt Dillard, advanced to third on a flyout and scored the decisive run on a sacrifice fly by Ty Stecko.

The victory improved Eastern Michigan’s record to 12-26, while Oakland fell to 9-26. A Interstat game simulator had projected a 4-1 Oakland victory, with the Golden Grizzlies given a 53% probability to win by the service’s ELO system.

The most critical phase of the game came in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Eastern Michigan clinging to an 11-8 lead. Oakland mounted a furious rally, scoring two runs to pull within one and loading the bases with only one out. The Eagles turned to reliever Landon Mueller to escape the jam. Mueller struck out Oakland’s Brendan Mardis looking to end the threat, preserving the narrow lead and setting the stage for the extra-inning victory. Mueller earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of perfect relief, striking out two.

Eastern Michigan shortstop Tristan Crane was the offensive catalyst, going 4 for 6 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. His two-run homer in the fourth inning was part of a strong individual stretch, following a three-RBI game in his last outing on April 17. First baseman Ty Stecko added three hits, including a solo home run, and drove in two.

Oakland’s offense was led by second baseman Carter Hain, who went 4 for 6 with two RBIs, and designated hitter Ben Clark, who also collected four hits. Shortstop Kyle Revere contributed a two-run homer during Oakland’s three-run sixth inning, part of a comeback that saw the Golden Grizzlies erase an early 11-4 deficit.

Eastern Michigan built its early lead with a five-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from center fielder John Hale, and a three-run fifth. Oakland chipped away, however, scoring three in the sixth and two in the eighth to tie the game and force extra innings.

Dillard took the loss for Oakland after allowing the unearned go-ahead run in the 10th. Eastern Michigan used seven pitchers in the contest, with Gregory Kennedy allowing three earned runs over three innings of work in a start.

Both teams resume play on Friday. Eastern Michigan begins a three-game series at Northern Illinois, while Oakland travels to face Northern Kentucky.