Shoemaker Takes Care of Business in 3-2 Win Over Rockets

Box Score

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team held off a late Toledo rally in the ninth for its 13 conference win, beating the Rockets 3-2. Junior Matt Shoemaker (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) threw a complete game in the winning effort, scattering nine hits and two runs, fanning four UT batters along the way. Senior Josh Ivan (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville) went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in all three EMU runs.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 18-30, 13-6 MAC while the Rockets fall to 16-29, 8-11 MAC.

EMU struck early, taking a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) led the inning off with a hard line drive that made its way to center field and stole second. After senior Steve Bradshaw (Lapeer, Mich.-West) was hit by a Justin Collop pitch, Ivan singled up the middle, allowing Rhoad and Bradshaw to score.

Toledo got on the board in the top of the third by way of a Josh Colliver RBI double to right field, scoring Nate McKeon who had singled earlier in the inning.

UT again threatened in the top of the fourth before the Eagle defense answered the challenge. With runners on second and third, Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) fielded a Josh Johnson grounder at third and fired home, throwing out Jared Hoying for the second out of the inning. Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) fielded a hard McKeon grounder, throwing Johnson out at second to end the inning.

The Rockets tied the game in the top of the fifth after Aaron Dudley’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Chris Dudics who reached base after being hit by a Shoemaker pitch to lead the inning off. The Eagles answered right back in the bottom half of the fifth frame to take a 3-2 lead. Ivan’s second hit of the day, a single to the gap at short, scored Mike Boyd (Huntington Woods, Mich.-Berkley). Boyd has made his way third after a single through the left side and an Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) sacrifice bunt.

The Green and White defense was near impenetrable tonight, providing Shoemaker (3-3) with the support when it counted the most. In the top of the ninth, senior Jeff Davis (Avondale, Ariz.-Westview) stole a home run from Dan Sherwood at the right-field wall, making an acrobatic catch to preserve the 3-2 lead. After Jim Vahalik singled and advanced to second, McKeon flied out to Davis for the second out of the inning. With a runner in scoring position and two outs, freshman Leonard chased a Dudics foul ball towards the EMU dugout, jumping over the railing to make the game-ending catch.

The Eagles and Rockets meet again tomorrow here at Oestrike Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with a pre-game recognition, honoring the 1976 College World Series runner-up team.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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