Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Kent State
Baseball Falls to Kent State in MAC Opener
3/20/2009 5:50:01 PM | Baseball
EMU and KSU play again tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Box score.
KENT, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped its Mid-American Conference opener Friday afternoon, March 20, as the Eagles fell, 13-4, to the Golden Flashes of Kent State University at Shoonover Stadium.
EMU drops to 3-16 (0-1 MAC) with the loss, while KSU improves to 11-4 (1-0 MAC) with the win.
Sophomore pitcher Jordan Goldschmidt (Ft. Loramie, Ohio-Ft. Loramie) took the loss for the Eagles, while Brad Stillings fanned 13 batters to pick up the win for the Golden Flashes.
Sophomore Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) got the Eagles on the board in the top of the first, as his RBI single scored senior Kyle Rhoad (Fostoria, Ohio-Elmwood) to make it a 1-0 game. Leonard finished 1-for-4 with one RBI, while Rhoad went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
After the Golden Flashes took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, the Eagles reclaimed the lead in the top of the third, as an RBI single by junior Jim Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) and an RBI double by Aaron Powell (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) gave EMU a 3-2 lead. Gulliver went 1-for-4 at the plate with a run and one RBI in the loss, while Powell finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.
The Golden Flashes answered big in the bottom of the fourth, as six hits, coupled with a pair of EMU errors, paved the way for a seven run inning and a 9-2 lead for KSU. The Golden Flashes tallied four more runs in the final innings to seal the victory in game one of the three game series.
The Eagles and Golden Flashes play again tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Schoonover Stadium. EMU sophomore pitcher Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) will start on the mound for the Eagles, while junior right-handed pitcher Kyle Smith will get the nod for KSU.
