YPSILANTI, Mich. (Interstat) — Eastern Michigan scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a one-run deficit and defeat Bowling Green 7-3 on Sunday evening at Oestrike Stadium, evening the three-game Mid-American Conference series.

The Eagles and Falcons each collected nine hits, but a decisive fifth-inning outburst proved the difference. Eastern Michigan improved to 15-30 overall and 9-7 in the MAC, while Bowling Green fell to 15-26 and 8-8.

Bowling Green struck first in the top of the first. Sam Seidel singled through the right side, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Lan Vickers, moved to third on a flyout and came home on a hit by pitch to Anthony DiLodovico. TJ Takats flied out to end the inning with the Falcons ahead 1-0.

Eastern Michigan answered in the bottom half. Luke Jellison singled, and Ty Stecko followed with a two-run home run to center field, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Bowling Green starting pitcher Jack Miller settled in, striking out two to retire the side.

The Falcons reclaimed the lead in the second. Zack Horky struck out, but Carter Mottice walked. Alex Laird reached on a fielder’s choice, forcing Mottice out at second, then stole second base. Camden Scheiderer singled through the left side, scoring Laird to tie the game. Seidel popped up to end the inning with Bowling Green ahead 3-2.

Both pitchers settled into a rhythm through the third and fourth. Miller worked around a walk and a stolen base in the third, striking out two. Eastern Michigan starter Carter White allowed a single and a double in the fourth but escaped with no further damage.

The game remained 3-2 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Eagles broke through. Cory Crane walked, and Trevor Molessa singled to put runners on first and second. Miller was replaced by Titus Lotz. Logan Zirwas walked to load the bases. Nate Weaver was hit by a pitch, forcing in Crane to tie the game 3-3. Nick Knupp singled to shortstop, scoring Molessa and giving Eastern Michigan a 4-3 lead. Matt Sydlowski then singled to left center, driving in Weaver and Zirwas to make it 7-3. The Eagles sent nine men to the plate in the inning.

Lotz finished the inning with a strikeout, but the damage was done. The Falcons could not mount a comeback against the Eastern Michigan bullpen.

Jack Angus pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Eagles, striking out one and allowing no hits. Cole Egan followed with 1 2/3 innings, giving up two hits and one run while striking out two. Emmett Gillies tossed a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit and striking out one, and Brian Henson Jr. closed the ninth with a scoreless third of an inning.

For Bowling Green, Miller pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing no hits but two earned runs with three strikeouts. Lotz went 3 1/3 innings, surrendering no hits and two earned runs while striking out six.

Offensively, Alex Laird led the Falcons with two hits and an RBI. Zack Horky added two hits, including a solo home run in the eighth inning for the final Bowling Green run. Ty Stecko provided the big blow for Eastern Michigan with his two-run homer, finishing 1 for 4. Knupp and Sydlowski each drove in two runs.

The game featured a critical play in the seventh when Eastern Michigan’s Weaver grounded into a double play to end a potential Falcons threat. Bowling Green loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, but Henson induced a flyout to center to end the game.

The series concluded a two-game set in which each team won once. Eastern Michigan won the opener 6-1 on Friday, and Bowling Green took Saturday’s game 2-1.

Bowling Green will travel to Michigan State on Tuesday, while Eastern Michigan visits Youngstown State on Wednesday.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Bowling Green with a 58.70 percent probability to win entering the game.