Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 14
Toledo, Ohio
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
16-24, 4-7
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Toledo
12-27, 5-6
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Eastern Michigan
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Toledo
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Eagles Drop Extra Innings Affair With Rockets
4/14/2012 6:16:00 PM | Softball
McKenna Russ drives in a career-best 5 RBI in the loss
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped an extra-inning matchup with host University of Toledo this afternoon, April 14, at Scott Park Softball Field in Toledo, Ohio. The Eagles now fall to 4-7 in the Mid-American Conference and 16-24 overall, while Toledo improves to 12-27 (5-6 MAC).
A trio of Eagles registered multiple hits in the contest, with McKenna Russ driving in a career-high five RBI after a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Jenna Ignowski is issued the loss and falls to 8-7 on the year. The junior hurled 5.0 innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs on eight UT hits while striking out just one. Lauren Wells threw 2.1 innings in relief and gave up two runs on two hits.
Toledo took the game's first lead in its first at bat of the ballgame. After UT's Kristen Roznoski drew a one-out walk, Lani Ernst connected on a two-run shot over the left-center field fence to give her squad a two-run lead.
The Eagles responded quickly in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs against them. Katy Blaharski hit a routine ground ball to second base, but Toledo's Brooke Gates mishandled the ball to allow Courtney Loe to come in to score the Green and White's first run. McKenna Russ drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to right, knotting the game at two apiece.
In the fifth, Blaharski reached first on a single to left and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Nellie Coquillard. Russ then collected her second RBI of the game with a single down the right field line to plate Blaharski from second base and give the Eagles a late 3-2 lead.
The Rockets would reclaim its lead in the bottom half of the inning however, as the Eagles suffered three defensive miscues alongside two hit batters and two UT hits that put Toledo back on top, 5-3.
The Green and White offense turned to the longball to chip away at its deficit. In the sixth, Loe powered a solo shot over the left field fence to help EMU climb back to within one, but it would be Russ' at bat that would push the Eagles ahead. Prior to Russ stepping to the plate, Blaharski and Coquillard reach on back-to-back hits to put two runners on for the senior. Russ did not disappoint, driving a three-run shot over the centerfield fence to give her team a 7-5 lead.
The home team's offense answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, the Eagles would place runners at first and second with a walk and a single, but the Rockets were able to get out of the jam.
Toledo manufactured the winning run in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases with one out. UT's Lindsey Tobias provided the game-winning hit with a single to right.
EMU will have a chance to avenge today's heartbreaker with another meeting with Rockets tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
A trio of Eagles registered multiple hits in the contest, with McKenna Russ driving in a career-high five RBI after a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Jenna Ignowski is issued the loss and falls to 8-7 on the year. The junior hurled 5.0 innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs on eight UT hits while striking out just one. Lauren Wells threw 2.1 innings in relief and gave up two runs on two hits.
Toledo took the game's first lead in its first at bat of the ballgame. After UT's Kristen Roznoski drew a one-out walk, Lani Ernst connected on a two-run shot over the left-center field fence to give her squad a two-run lead.
The Eagles responded quickly in the third inning after loading the bases with no outs against them. Katy Blaharski hit a routine ground ball to second base, but Toledo's Brooke Gates mishandled the ball to allow Courtney Loe to come in to score the Green and White's first run. McKenna Russ drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to right, knotting the game at two apiece.
In the fifth, Blaharski reached first on a single to left and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Nellie Coquillard. Russ then collected her second RBI of the game with a single down the right field line to plate Blaharski from second base and give the Eagles a late 3-2 lead.
The Rockets would reclaim its lead in the bottom half of the inning however, as the Eagles suffered three defensive miscues alongside two hit batters and two UT hits that put Toledo back on top, 5-3.
The Green and White offense turned to the longball to chip away at its deficit. In the sixth, Loe powered a solo shot over the left field fence to help EMU climb back to within one, but it would be Russ' at bat that would push the Eagles ahead. Prior to Russ stepping to the plate, Blaharski and Coquillard reach on back-to-back hits to put two runners on for the senior. Russ did not disappoint, driving a three-run shot over the centerfield fence to give her team a 7-5 lead.
The home team's offense answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, the Eagles would place runners at first and second with a walk and a single, but the Rockets were able to get out of the jam.
Toledo manufactured the winning run in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases with one out. UT's Lindsey Tobias provided the game-winning hit with a single to right.
EMU will have a chance to avenge today's heartbreaker with another meeting with Rockets tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
L: Ignowski, Jenna (8-7)
Batting:
2B: Coquillard, Nellie 1
HR: Russ, McKenna 1 ; Loe, Courtney 1
RBI: Blaharski, Katy 1 ; Russ, McKenna 5 ; Loe, Courtney 1
SH: Coquillard, Nellie 1
SF: Russ, McKenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blaharski, Katy 2 ; Smith, Lindsay 1 ; Russ, McKenna 1 ; Loe, Courtney 2 ; Nicholson, Courtney 1
SB: Stanton, Amanda 1
HBP: Stanton, Amanda 1
Batting:
2B: SMITH, A 1 ; TOBIAS 1
HR: ERNST 1 ; SMITH, M 1
RBI: ERNST 2 ; TOBIAS 2 ; MCCARTHY 1 ; SMITH, M 2
SH: ROZNOSKI 1
SF: MCCARTHY 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROZNOSKI 2 ; ERNST 2 ; TOBIAS 2 ; SMITH, M 1 ; GATES 1
HBP: SPINK 1 ; MCCARTHY 1 ; SMITH, M 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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