No. 4 Kentucky Takes Two from EMU

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team squared off against the No. 4 ranked Wildcats of Kentucky today, March 11 here at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Eagles dropped both games of the doubleheader, falling 18-5 in the first and 8-6 in game two.

Bobby Henderson (Milford, Mich.-Detroit Catholic) went three and a third innings in game one, surrendering 11 runs on 10 hits and walking three. Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark) started game two, going five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out four for the no decision. The EMU offense was lead by Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West), who went 5-for-6 on the day with two RBI and Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), who had three RBI in game two while going 3-for-4 for the game.

The setbacks at the hands of a top-five nationally ranked team drop the Eagles to 0-15 while the No. 4 Wildcats remain perfect at 15-0 on the year.

Eastern Michigan got on the board in the top of the first, with Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) reaching on an error by first baseman Brain Spear, allowing Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) who reached on a single, to plate the first run of the game. With the bases loaded, freshman pitcher Mike Kaczmarek was able to work his way out of the jam, getting Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) to line out to right and Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) to pop up to first base.

The EMU bats remained hot in the second, with the Green and White plating two more to increase its lead to 3-0. Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) walked to lead off the inning and was driven in by a Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) double to left center. Rhoad advanced to third on a Leonard fly out to left center and scored on a Steve Bradshaw bunt single.

After throwing a three-up, three-down first inning, Henderson (0-3) had a rough second as the Wildcats plated four runs on four hits, taking a 4-3 lead in the process.

The Wildcats offensive attack continued in the third and fourth innings, as they scored a combined eight runs, increasing their lead to 12-4. EMU posted one run in the top of the fourth on a Todd Graves (St. Mary's, Ohio-St. Mary's) sacrifice hit that drove in Gulliver.

UK added six more in the final three innings, bringing the total to 18-5 in game one.

In game two, the Eagles again jumped out to an early lead after loading the bases on three consecutive singles. Davis singled through the left side, knocking Bradshaw and Leonard in for the 2-0 lead. Ivan’s grounder to third allowed junior Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) to cross the plate, increasing the EMU lead to 3-0. With the bases loaded in the bottom half of the first, Wendzicki (0-3) was saved by Ivan’s line-drive catch and tag at second double play to get out of the inning.

The Wildcats knotted the game in the third at 3-3, and then took the lead in the fourth at 4-3. Brian Spear’s three-run homer over the left field tied the game before Collin Cowgill’s sacrifice fly to left field brought in Tyler Howe.

In the UK fifth, Sawyer Carroll singled to center field and was driven in by Spencer Korus’ double down the right field line, giving the Cats a slight cushion at 5-3.

The Eagles bounced back to tie the game 5-5 in the top half of the sixth. Bradshaw and Powell each singled before Ivan found the right center gap for a two-RBI double. Clint Tilford was brought in relief for UK, getting Ken Battiston (West Milton, Ohio-Milton Union) to pop out to first and Aaron Crooks (Toledo, Ohio-Ottawa Hills) to fly out to center field to get out of the pickle.

Junior Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) gave up a double to Ryan Wilkes to start the UK seventh. Spear followed with a double of his own, bringing the go-ahead run in Wilkes across the plate. After Tyler Howe walked to load the bases, Chris Wade singled through the left side, bringing in Rose and Spear to give the Wildcats an 8-5 lead heading into the eighth.

Brock Baber appeared in the eighth after Tilford allowed a Jeff Davis double to right field to start the inning. Ivan singled up the middle, advancing Davis to third. Skirving’s RBI fielder’s choice cut the deficit to 8-6 with one out. Graves pinch hit for Battiston, driving a single up the middle and positioning Skirving at third after an error by center fielder Cowgill. With runners on the corners, Baber got Gulliver to ground into the four-six-three double play to end the Eagle threat in the eighth.

Tyler Howe was brought in to close the game in the ninth, striking out Powell for his first save of the season.

The Eagles will be in action again this weekend, March 14-16 as they travel to Dayton, Ohio for a Friday afternoon contest. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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