Volunteers Down Eagles In Series Opener, 6-2

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team traveled to Knoxville, Tenn. this weekend, dropping the series opener 6-2, here today, March 7, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium to the University of Tennessee Volunteers. UT used a two-run first inning to take the early lead and not look back.

With the loss, Eastern Michigan falls to 0-11 on the year while Tennessee improves to 5-4.

Michael Boyd (Huntington Woods, Mich.-Berkley) and Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) led the way for the Green and White, each with home runs on the day, accounting for the lone two Eagle runs. Taking the loss for EMU was sophomore Kevin Sikora (Youngstown, Ohio-Boardman), tossing seven innings, giving up seven hits and four earned runs while striking out four.

Andy Simunic led off the bottom of the first for UT, singling to center field, and then advancing to second on a wild pitch by Sikora. After a P.J. Polk walk, Kentrail Davis singled through the right side, driving in Simunic to give the Vols an early 1-0 lead. Cody Brown’s sacrifice fly to center field allowed Polk to score, increasing the UT lead to 2-0.

In the EMU third, Boyd drove a Steve Crnkovich pitch deep over the left field wall, cutting the UT lead in half, 2-1. Unfortunately, the Eagle offense would end there as Crnkovich was able to regroup and get Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) to ground out to end the inning.

Tennessee’s offense sparked in the bottom half of the third as Polk led off with a double to center and was driven in by Davis’ single to center, making the score 3-1. Sikora retired the next three batters faced to get out of the inning.

EMU got on the board again in the seventh when Powell homered to left, cutting the UT lead to 4-2. The Eagles could not muster any further offense, going three up, three down in the eighth before leaving two stranded in the ninth. UT added runs in the seventh and eighth, extending their lead to 6-2.

The Eagles and Volunteers continue their series tomorrow, March 8. First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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