Longball Fuels Eagles 11-4 Win Over Falcons

Box score.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team continued its hot play at the Mid-American Conference Tournament; defeating the No. 3 seeded Falcons of Bowling Green State University 11-4 here today in second round action at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Senior Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer) led the way for the Green and White offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored. Bradshaw joined fellow senior Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) and junior Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) in the home run derby displayed by the No. 2 seeded Eagles.

With the win, the Eagles advance to the third round of the tournament where they will face the winner of the Bowling Green and Ohio game to be played Friday morning at 9 a.m. EMU will play the 4 p.m. afternoon contest with the chance to advance to the championship game with a win.

Junior Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) picked up the win, throwing six and two-thirds innings, allowing just three earned runs and seven hits while striking out four Falcon batters. Senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena) relieved Shoemaker (5-3) in the middle of the seventh, picking up the save while finishing the final two and a third innings, allowing just two hits while fanning three.

Bowling Green struck early in the first inning, scoring two runs on two hits. Ryan Shay walked to lead the inning off, advancing to second on a wild pitch by Shoemaker. A Derek Spencer double off the right-center wall scored Shay, giving BGSU the 1-0 lead. Mark Galvin doubled to left center, bringing in Spencer to round out the scoring.

EMU cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first when Davis singled to center field, scoring lead-off hitter Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood). Rhoad had led the inning off with a nine-pitch walk.

The Eagles evened the score up in the bottom of the third. Bradshaw’s first hit of the day, a double down the left-field line was followed by a Davis walk. With two on and two out, senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) singled up the middle, knocking in Bradshaw.

A three-run fifth by the Eagles broke the game open, sparking a surge by the Green and White offense that produced nine runs over the following four innings. After junior designated hitter Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) singled to left center, Bradshaw sent a 0-2 offering from Kevin Light over the right field wall. Just as the Eagles returned to the dugout, Davis made it back-to-back jacks, driving a Light pitch to right field.

Gulliver tacked on an additional run in the sixth with his fourth home run of the year, bringing the score to 6-3.

Eastern Michigan put the game away in the seventh, posting four runs on two hits. Powell reached on an error by right fielder Mark Galvin before Bradshaw walked. The Falcons intentionally walked Davis, loading the bases for true freshman Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley). Leonard proved the Falcons strategy to be a bust, doubling down the right-field line, knocking in Ivan and Bradshaw.

Ivan’s groundout to second base in the bottom of the eighth drove in Powell, closing out the scoring at 11-4. With a seven run lead, Puls made quick work of the Falcons in the top of the ninth, striking out Andrew Foster and Brian Hangbers before getting Spencer to pop out to Ivan to end the game.

The Eagles advance to the third round of the tournament, awaiting the winner of the Bowling Green – Ohio elimination game. First pitch for tomorrow’s game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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