Baseball Edged by Kent State in MAC Championship Game

Box score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — For the second time in two days, the No. 1 seed Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell, 3-2, to No. 2 seed Kent State University in the championship game of the 2007 Mid-American Conference Tournament here Saturday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium. Junior pitcher Jeff Fischer, junior shortstop Jeff Hehr and sophomore designated hitter Kyle Rhoad were named to the All-Tournament team.

Similar to the first game, EMU’s hot offense was shut down by the Kent State (33-24) pitching staff. KSU starter Alan Morrison recorded the win allowing only two runs on four hits with two strikeouts. Relief pitchers John Pacella, Ryan Davis and Reid Lamport went the final 3.1 innings without allowing an Eagle hit.

After a 132 pitch outing on Wednesday, Fischer picked up the loss putting forth a valiant effort going 7.1 innings allowing three runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. In his two tournament outings, Fischer went 1-1 throwing 243 total pitches.

EMU finished the season with a 32-24 overall record and was led by junior Josh Ivan who went 1-for-4 with a RBI and run scored courtesy of the game's only home run. Junior Steve Bradshaw hit 1-for-3 with a run scored while junior Jeff Davis and Hehr also both went 1-for-4.

Kent State was led by Andrew Davis who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Tournament Most Valuable Player, Jason Patton who went 2-for-4 with the game winning RBI.

Kent State got on the board first on a RBI single by Anthony Gallas in the bottom of the first inning to move ahead 1-0.

EMU responded in the top of the second as Bradshaw reached on an error by the shortstop, Blackburn drew a walk and Davis notched a bunt single to load the bases. Ivan hit into double play but Bradshaw scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Davis put the Eagles up 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning with a line drive home run over the left field fence. However, the lead would not last long as A. Davis singled through the right side scoring a run to tie the game at 2-2.

EMU got the bases loaded in the top the sixth inning with one out. Davis was not able to capitalize and popped out to the shortstop. Ivan followed and laced a shot down the left field line but third baseman A. Davis made a diving stop on top of the bag for the force out to get the Golden Flashes out of the jam.

Fischer got into a jam of his own in the bottom of the eight inning as Kent State got runners on first and second base. Patton drove in the winning run with a single through the left side to put the Golden Flashes up for good, 3-2.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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