Eagles Season Ends with 4-3 Loss to Kentucky

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team put up a valiant fight, but the University of Kentucky was too much to overcome Saturday afternoon, May 31, in the consolation game of the NCAA’s Ann Arbor Regional here at the Wilpon Complex. The Eagles struck early, taking a 3-2 lead after two innings, but the Wildcats answered right back, scoring two in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead and held on despite EMU’s late comeback attempts.

Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) was charged with the loss. Shoemaker (5-4) threw seven and a third innings, scattering seven hits and four runs while striking out four Wildcat batters. There were no surprises in who led the EMU offense on the day. Seniors Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) and Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) wrapped up their careers in the Green and White uniform on a high note, combining to drive in all three Eagles' runs on the day. Bradshaw was one of four players to collect two hits on the day, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

“It was a disappointing loss, we had some opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on, but we competed for nine innings and I’m proud of how our guys handled themselves,” said first-year head coach Jake Boss Jr. “Anytime you get a chance to extend your season and represent the Mid-American Conference, it’s a special thing. We’re proud to have played in the Ann Arbor Regional and certainly wish the outcome would have been different, but at the end of the day, it was a great experience for our kids, one they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) opened the game with a first-pitch single off Greg Dombrowski. After advancing to second on a groundout, Rhoad made his way home off a Bradshaw single to center field, giving the Eagles the early 1-0 lead.

Kentucky answered in the bottom half of the first inning with Sawyer Carroll driving a 3-2 Shoemaker offering over the left-center field wall for his 18th home run of the season. Carroll’s two-run homer also pushed his season RBI total to 81.

Key defensive plays allowed Dombrowski and Shoemaker to get out of the second inning unscathed. With one on and one out, Andrew Marshall (Mason, Mich.-Mason) grounded into a double play to end the Eagle second. Shoemaker ran into trouble in the bottom half of the frame, hitting Tyler Rowe before giving up a single to Marcus Nidiffer. With two on and two out, Rhoad chased down a long fly ball by Keenan Wiley for the final out of the inning.

The Green and White offense awoke in the third, posting two runs to regain the lead at 3-2. Mike Boyd (Huntington Woods, Mich.-Berkley) singled to third base and advanced to second on a Rhoad groundout to third base. After Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) reached on a throwing error by Chris Wade, Bradshaw singled home Boyd, tying the game at two. Davis continued his hot play in the regional with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Powell and giving EMU the lead after two and a half complete innings

The Wildcats again took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on three hits. Chris McClendon singled home Carroll before Brian Spear’s sacrifice fly to left field allowed Collin Cowgill to make his way home, rounding out the UK third.

Shoemaker settled down after the third, recording three one-two-three innings and allowing just one Wildcat runner to reach base over the next four innings. UK looked to its pen after the fifth, bringing in Andrew Albers. Dombrowski pitched five complete innings, giving up six hits and three runs on the day.

After Shoemaker got the first out in the eighth, senior Dan Puls (Alpena, Mich.-Alpena) took over with one man on. Puls quickly retired McClendon before sitting down Spear with a called third strike.

Senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) led the top of the ninth off for the Eagles. Ivan avoided the tag by Albers after a slow dribble down the first-base line. After Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) struck out swinging, pinch hitter Todd Graves (St.Marys, Ohio-St. Marys) grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and the Eagles’ season.

The Eagles concluded the 2008 season as MAC West Division and MAC Tournament Champions with a 25-34 overall mark in head coach Boss’ first year at the helm.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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