Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan (MAC Tournament)
Powell, Leonard Power Eagles Into Second Round
5/21/2008 2:49:37 PM | Baseball
Eagles will meet No. 3 seed Bowling Green
Box score.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team scored the runs when they needed them most to defeat the No. 7 seed Western Michigan University 8-5, here in the opening round of the 2008 Mid-American Conference Tournament at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. A seventh inning bomb by true freshman Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) provided breathing room for starting pitcher Sean Hoffman (Midland, Mich.-Midland) to earn his fourth win on the year.
“We wanted to come out and set the tone early on,” said first-year head coach Jake Boss Jr. “We had some guys make some big plays and get big hits when we needed them most, and when your defense is playing well, your pitcher carries that momentum forward.”
Hoffman (4-2) pitched a complete game in the winning effort, scattering six hits and three earned runs, striking out four Bronco batters. Seniors Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) and Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) and junior Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) joined Leonard and Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) with multi-hit performances at the plate today.
The Eagles raced out of the gates, batting around the order to secure an early 4-0 lead after one inning of play. Powell and senior Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer) reached on back-to-back walks from Bronco starting pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth. Ivan singled in Powell for the first run of the game. Leonard’s double to right center pushed the EMU lead to 3-0, scoring Ivan and Bradshaw. After a Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) walk, Marshall singled to left center, scoring Leonard to round out the scoring for the Eagles in the bottom of the first inning.
Western Michigan answered in the top of the second, taking advantage of two Eagle errors to score four runs on two hits, tying the game at 4-4. The Broncos added a run in the third when Pedro Dager doubled to right center, knocking in Matt Abro.
EMU knotted the game at five in the bottom of the fourth inning when Powell sent a 1-1 Hollingsworth pitch sailing over the right-center field wall. In addition to his eighth home run of the season, Powell went 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored.
Bradshaw reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a throwing error to open the bottom of the seventh. Davis then singled to right center, driving in Bradshaw to give the Eagles a 6-5 lead. As the Broncos proved earlier they could rally back, Leonard provided some insurance runs two batters later. After an Ivan sacrifice bunt moved Davis over to second, Leonard jacked a first pitch fastball over the center field wall, bringing the score to 8-5.
With a three-run lead and just two innings left, Hoffman retired the next six straight batters to lead EMU to victory.
The Eagles will be in action tomorrow, May 22, taking on the No. 3 seeded Bowling Green State University Falcons at VA Memorial Stadium. First pitch for the second round match-up is set for 4 p.m.
