Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 30
Buffalo, N.Y.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
13-17, 2-0
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Buffalo
7-14, 0-2
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Eastern Michigan
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Buffalo
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Photo by: Kathi Russ
Softball Opens MAC Play With Pair Of Wins At Buffalo
3/30/2012 5:25:00 PM | Softball
Eagles improve to 12-17 overall, 2-0 in conference play
Box Score: Game One. Game Two.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team kicked off its Mid-American Conference portion of the 2012 schedule in winning fashion today, March 30, with a pair of wins over the University at Buffalo to improve to 12-17 (2-0 MAC) on the season. Eastern took game one, 13-4, before prevailing in a closely fought, 6-5 contest in game two.
The Eagles tallied runs in each inning through game one, tying a season-high 13 against the Bulls' pitching staff. EMU's bats hammered out 10 hits in the contest, three of which exited the ballpark as Nellie Coquillard, Amanda Herron and Lindsay Smith all collected homeruns in the game. Not only are the three longballs a season best for the Eagles, but it also ties the third-most in a single contest in program history, as the Green and White last hit three in a single contest against Detroit on March 29, 2011.
Coquillard added a double and a single to her round-tripper on the day for a flawless 3-for-3 effort at the plate while driving in four RBI.
Katy Blaharski also drove in four runs against UB in a career-best effort. The lefty slapper was 2-for-3 in the contest and scored a run.
Jenna Ignowski got the start in the circle, lasting two innings before handing over duties to freshman Lindsay Rich. The rookie closed out the final three innings to pick up the win (3-6), fanning two while holding opponents to just two hits.
EMU earned its first two runs of the contest in the top of the first on two hits and a UB error. McKenna Russ reached on an infield single with two outs and was brought in to score by Coquillard's double to left center field. A Sarah Gerber ground ball to third was mishandled on the following at bat, allowing Coquillard to coast into home and plate EMU's second run of the contest.
Buffalo would not wait long to respond, however, driving in two runs to tie the game through one inning of play. A walk and an error placed runners at second and third for the Bulls, and a Caitlin Dekker single was enough to knot the game at two apiece.
The Eagles reclaimed their lead in the following at bat thanks to a two-run base hit from Blaharski, but the home team again responded with another run in the bottom of the second to set the score at 3-2.
Both teams blasted solo shots in the third to keep it a one-run ball game, but a five-run fourth inning from the Eagles' offense blew the game open to create a considerable lead for EMU.
Smith started the fourth with a solo homerun, giving her team a 5-3 advantage over the Bulls. An RBI-single from Coquillard and a three-run bomb off the bat of Herron put the Eagles ahead, 10-3.
The Green and White added its final three runs in the fifth inning on a two-run triple by Blaharski and a sacrifice fly from Coquillard to force the five-inning run rule and secure game one, 13-4.
EMU outlasted the Bulls in their second contest of the afternoon, sneaking by with a 6-5 victory to complete the sweep.
Ignowski (8-4) would be the winning pitcher for EMU, throwing four innings in relief while striking three and allowing just one earned run.
Amanda Stanton showcased one her best offensive outings of the season with 2-for-3 mark at the plate that included two homeruns and four RBI, while Jessica Richards also picked up a pair of hits for the Eagles with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
Buffalo would be first to strike in game two. The Bulls capitalized on an EMU error that placed a runner at third with a single to right field to take a 1-0 lead.
Stanton would help the Green and White take its first lead of the game with her first of two homeruns in the contest. Herron and Allison Scherer reached on back-to-back singles, leaving way for Stanton who did not disappoint, blasting a three-run shot over the left centerfield fence to give EMU a 3-1 lead.
EMU would add another run before heading into the fourth, where Stanton dug into the batter's box for her second at bat of the contest. The sophomore sent the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her second four-bagger of the day and pushed the Eagles ahead, 5-1.
Richards followed with a one-out triple to center field and was brought home on a fielder's choice, giving the Green and White a 6-1 lead, but Buffalo strung together three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to cut its deficit to two.
Buffalo then brought the game to within one in the sixth inning on a solo homerun by Holly Luciano, but EMU was able to shutout the Bulls' offense the remainder of the contest to preserve a 6-5 win on the road.
The Eagles will next play in the first of two games with Kent State tomorrow, March 31 in Kent, Ohio. First pitch is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team kicked off its Mid-American Conference portion of the 2012 schedule in winning fashion today, March 30, with a pair of wins over the University at Buffalo to improve to 12-17 (2-0 MAC) on the season. Eastern took game one, 13-4, before prevailing in a closely fought, 6-5 contest in game two.
The Eagles tallied runs in each inning through game one, tying a season-high 13 against the Bulls' pitching staff. EMU's bats hammered out 10 hits in the contest, three of which exited the ballpark as Nellie Coquillard, Amanda Herron and Lindsay Smith all collected homeruns in the game. Not only are the three longballs a season best for the Eagles, but it also ties the third-most in a single contest in program history, as the Green and White last hit three in a single contest against Detroit on March 29, 2011.
Coquillard added a double and a single to her round-tripper on the day for a flawless 3-for-3 effort at the plate while driving in four RBI.
Katy Blaharski also drove in four runs against UB in a career-best effort. The lefty slapper was 2-for-3 in the contest and scored a run.
Jenna Ignowski got the start in the circle, lasting two innings before handing over duties to freshman Lindsay Rich. The rookie closed out the final three innings to pick up the win (3-6), fanning two while holding opponents to just two hits.
EMU earned its first two runs of the contest in the top of the first on two hits and a UB error. McKenna Russ reached on an infield single with two outs and was brought in to score by Coquillard's double to left center field. A Sarah Gerber ground ball to third was mishandled on the following at bat, allowing Coquillard to coast into home and plate EMU's second run of the contest.
Buffalo would not wait long to respond, however, driving in two runs to tie the game through one inning of play. A walk and an error placed runners at second and third for the Bulls, and a Caitlin Dekker single was enough to knot the game at two apiece.
The Eagles reclaimed their lead in the following at bat thanks to a two-run base hit from Blaharski, but the home team again responded with another run in the bottom of the second to set the score at 3-2.
Both teams blasted solo shots in the third to keep it a one-run ball game, but a five-run fourth inning from the Eagles' offense blew the game open to create a considerable lead for EMU.
Smith started the fourth with a solo homerun, giving her team a 5-3 advantage over the Bulls. An RBI-single from Coquillard and a three-run bomb off the bat of Herron put the Eagles ahead, 10-3.
The Green and White added its final three runs in the fifth inning on a two-run triple by Blaharski and a sacrifice fly from Coquillard to force the five-inning run rule and secure game one, 13-4.
EMU outlasted the Bulls in their second contest of the afternoon, sneaking by with a 6-5 victory to complete the sweep.
Ignowski (8-4) would be the winning pitcher for EMU, throwing four innings in relief while striking three and allowing just one earned run.
Amanda Stanton showcased one her best offensive outings of the season with 2-for-3 mark at the plate that included two homeruns and four RBI, while Jessica Richards also picked up a pair of hits for the Eagles with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
Buffalo would be first to strike in game two. The Bulls capitalized on an EMU error that placed a runner at third with a single to right field to take a 1-0 lead.
Stanton would help the Green and White take its first lead of the game with her first of two homeruns in the contest. Herron and Allison Scherer reached on back-to-back singles, leaving way for Stanton who did not disappoint, blasting a three-run shot over the left centerfield fence to give EMU a 3-1 lead.
EMU would add another run before heading into the fourth, where Stanton dug into the batter's box for her second at bat of the contest. The sophomore sent the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her second four-bagger of the day and pushed the Eagles ahead, 5-1.
Richards followed with a one-out triple to center field and was brought home on a fielder's choice, giving the Green and White a 6-1 lead, but Buffalo strung together three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to cut its deficit to two.
Buffalo then brought the game to within one in the sixth inning on a solo homerun by Holly Luciano, but EMU was able to shutout the Bulls' offense the remainder of the contest to preserve a 6-5 win on the road.
The Eagles will next play in the first of two games with Kent State tomorrow, March 31 in Kent, Ohio. First pitch is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ignowski, Jenna (8-4)
L: JOHNSON (2-7)
Batting:
2B: Gerber, Sarah 1
3B: Richards, Jessica 1
HR: Stanton, Amanda 2
RBI: Blaharski, Katy 1 ; Coquillard, Nellie 1 ; Stanton, Amanda 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Richards, Jessica 2 ; Herron, Amanda 1 ; Scherer, Allison 1 ; Stanton, Amanda 2
SB: Richards, Jessica 3
HBP: Richards, Jessica 1 ; Scherer, Allison 1
Batting:
HR: LUCIANO 1
RBI: LUCIANO 3 ; CURTISS 1 ; GALLARDO 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LUCIANO 2 ; WARD 1 ; SAUCIER 1 ; PETTINE 1
HBP: WARD 1 ; DEKKER 1 ; PETTINE 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Thank You, Team 38
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