Eagles Regional Bound with 12-4 Win Over Kent State

Box Score

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team captured the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship with a 12-4 handling of the No. 1 seed Kent State University Golden Flashes. The No. 2 seed Eagles hammered out 17 hits, including three home runs en route to a NCAA Regional berth here at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.

After starting on the mound in the tournament opener against Western Michigan, junior Sean Hoffman (Midland, Mich.-Midland) got the starting nod from first-year head coach Jake Boss Jr. on just two days rest. Hoffman (5-2) threw six innings, limiting the Golden Flashes eight hits and four runs while striking out one. Senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena) entered the game at the start of the seventh, shutting down the KSU offense. Puls picked up his second save of the tournament, not allowing a hit and striking out three over the final nine outs.

The Green and White offense remained red hot in the championship game with eight players recording at least one hit. Six Eagles recorded multi-hit performances, led by Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview), Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) and Zach Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) who each tallied three hits on the day.

Leonard, voted the Tournament MVP, put the Eagles up in the top of the second with his team-leading ninth home run of the year and second of the tournament. The true freshman went 3-for-6 on the day with three RBI and two runs scored.

Kent State knotted the game at one off a Cory Hindel sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jared Bartholomew who had reached on a single through the left side to start the inning.

After a scoreless third, senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) recorded his 200th career hit, a towering shot over the right-center field wall, putting the Eagles back on top, 2-1. Ivan is just the 11th Eagle player to tally 200 career hits and joins teammates Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) and Jeff Davis who each joined the exclusive club earlier this season.

The Eagles’ offense exploded over the following three innings, putting up 10 runs to take a 12-4 advantage. A five-run fifth was highlighted by senior Mike Boyd’s (Huntington Woods, Mich.-Berkley) second home run in as many games, a three-run jack that towered over the scoreboard in left field.

Bartholomew and Jared Humphreys led the KSU sixth off with hits, putting the Flashes in scoring position with no outs. With two on, Ben Klafczynski cut the deficit to 8-4 with a three-run home run to right field.

The 8-4 margin was as close as Kent State would come, as the Eagles scored four in the top half of the seventh and never looked back. Puls cruised through the final three innings, setting the Ealges up with a date in the NCAA Regionals. In addition to the automatic tournament bid, four Eagles were selected to the All-Tournament Team. Seniors Ivan and Bradshaw join Hoffman and Tournament MVP Leonard.

EMU will now wait for the NCAA selection committee to place them in a regional. The selection show will take place Monday, May 26 at 12:30 p.m.

Head Coach Jake Boss Jr. on the championship game...

"Sean Hoffman gave us a gutsy performance, coming back on two days rest to set the tone for the game early on. I am proud of the way the guys swung the bat offensively."

Boss on an 0-17 start to the season...

"I'm just real proud of the way this team has come together after a rough start. It is a true testament to the leadership of the seniors. Their ability to keep working hard and stay the course was contagious throughout the season."

Senior Josh Ivan on his fourth inning home run, the 200th hit of his career...
"It felt good to get the momentum back on our side. It feels good to put it behind me and focus on our next game."

True freshman Zack Leonard on being named Tournament MVP...
"Its an amazing feeling to be able to help the team out in any way I can. We hung together throughout the tournament, with everyone chipping in when we needed it."

Senior Mike Boyd on his fith inning three-run home run...
"I was just looking for a fastball and he [Porkoney] pretty much gave it to me. I was up in the count and took a good cut. To have a chance to put us out in front and give Hoffman some room to work with feels great."

Junior Sean Hoffman on pitching on two days rest...
"I felt good, I was able to get through the first five innings before it caught up to me. I started to get tired and started leaving the ball up in the sixth inning, but I am just glad that I was able to help out in any way."

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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