Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 23
Oxford, Ohio
Noon
Eastern Michigan University
9-12, 0-2
6
at
13
Miami
9-10, 2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
6
8
5
Miami
1
2
5
1
1
2
0
1
X
13
17
3
Baseball Swept in Doubleheader, Series at Miami
3/23/2013 7:44:00 PM | Baseball
Eagles start MAC play 0-3 for first time since 2009
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball team started the 2013 Mid-American Conference season 0-3 as the result of a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Miami University Saturday, March 23. The Eagles (9-13; 3-0 MAC) were tripped up by the RedHawks (10-10; 3-0 MAC), 13-6, in game one and 6-4 in the finale.
Pitching and defense proved to be the weak spots of Head Coach Jay Alexander's squad Saturday. The RedHawks piled up 32 hits over the two contests and took advantage of five EMU errors. The Eagles were swept in a conference-opening series for the first time since 2009.
After a rough outing in Friday's opener, Sam Ott was back to his usual self with a 5-for-9, two-RBI afternoon. Daniel Russell connected for his second triple of the season and 13th of his career in game one. The senior centerfielder notched a hit in each game and scored two runs.
The Eagles are scheduled to host Concordia University Tuesday, March 26, at Oestrike Stadium. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
Game One
The Eagles took an early 2-0 lead to begin the day, but Miami scored in seven-of-eight innings to run away with a 13-6 win. Ott (3-for-5) and Lee Longo (2-for-4) each had strong showings at the plate with two RBI apiece, but the RedHawks struck for 17 hits and took advantage of four EMU errors.
Starter Kendall Lewis left the game after just 0.2 innings and it was reliever Brian Valente (0-2) who ended up the losing pitcher. Valente tossed 1.2 innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk. MU scored at least one run off of each of the Eagles' five pitchers.
Russell posted his second triple of the season and scored a pair of tallies while going 1-for-4. Adam Sonabend went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Mac Thoreson (1-3) won his first game of the year in six innings of work. He allowed four runs (three earned), walked three and struck out a trio of batters over six innings. Three MU batters turned in three-hit games including Dan Walsh, who went 3-for-3 with a game-best four RBI and three runs scored.
Russell's three-bagger led off the game and Ott drove him home two batters later. Ott then tagged up from third to make it a 2-0 EMU lead on a Sonabend sacrifice fly. Miami halved the lead in the bottom of the inning as Alex Johnson doubled and then scored on a Nick Rotola fielding error.
MU scored twice more in the second and piled on five more in the third to take an 8-2 lead. The RedHawks sent 11 men to the plate in the third inning.
The deficit grew to seven runs until the Eagles put up a two-spot in the fifth. Russell reached base on a dropped fly ball and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Ott. Dae Bowden then crossed the plate thanks to a Longo sacrifice fly to cut the Miami lead to 9-4.
EMU scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but the home squad already had 13 runs on the scoreboard and was in no danger of surrendering the lead.
Game Two
Eastern Michigan held a 3-2 edge until the seventh inning when Miami scored four times to take a 6-3 lead. The Eagles tried to get back in the game with a run in the eighth, but Miami held on for a 6-4 victory.
Brian Hill (1-1) pitched 6.2 innings, but gave up 14 hits and six runs (five earned). Devon Bronson toed the rubber for the final 1.1 innings and was the only EMU pitcher in either game not to allow a run.
Sonabend delivered for a second straight game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a double and a run scored. Austin Williams, who took over at third base in game two, hit 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
Nathan Williams pitched six innings for the RedHawks, but it was Shane Kriss (1-0) who was credited with the victory in one inning of work. Williams allowed seven hits and three earned runs, while Kriss retired all batters he faced. Recording his first save of the season was Ryan Powers. Offensively, Kevin Bower went 3-for-5 out of the No. 3 spot and Ryan Elble hit 2-for-4 with three RBI.
EMU tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second on an RBI single by Williams. Miami regained a one-run lead in the bottom of that frame on a Matt Honchel RBI.
A two-run fourth inning put the Eagles back in command, 4-2. Sonabend led off with a double and John Rubino drove him in on a fielder's choice. Rubino then touched home on a Williams single back up the middle.
That two-run lead held until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the RedHawks loaded the bases with two out. Elble cleared the bases with a double to left center and Walsh followed with a triple to erase the Eagles' lead and take a 6-4 advantage.
Ott doubled and scored in the eighth inning, but the Eagles were unable to muster any offense in the ninth as MU completed the sweep.
Pitching and defense proved to be the weak spots of Head Coach Jay Alexander's squad Saturday. The RedHawks piled up 32 hits over the two contests and took advantage of five EMU errors. The Eagles were swept in a conference-opening series for the first time since 2009.
After a rough outing in Friday's opener, Sam Ott was back to his usual self with a 5-for-9, two-RBI afternoon. Daniel Russell connected for his second triple of the season and 13th of his career in game one. The senior centerfielder notched a hit in each game and scored two runs.
The Eagles are scheduled to host Concordia University Tuesday, March 26, at Oestrike Stadium. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
Game One
The Eagles took an early 2-0 lead to begin the day, but Miami scored in seven-of-eight innings to run away with a 13-6 win. Ott (3-for-5) and Lee Longo (2-for-4) each had strong showings at the plate with two RBI apiece, but the RedHawks struck for 17 hits and took advantage of four EMU errors.
Starter Kendall Lewis left the game after just 0.2 innings and it was reliever Brian Valente (0-2) who ended up the losing pitcher. Valente tossed 1.2 innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk. MU scored at least one run off of each of the Eagles' five pitchers.
Russell posted his second triple of the season and scored a pair of tallies while going 1-for-4. Adam Sonabend went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Mac Thoreson (1-3) won his first game of the year in six innings of work. He allowed four runs (three earned), walked three and struck out a trio of batters over six innings. Three MU batters turned in three-hit games including Dan Walsh, who went 3-for-3 with a game-best four RBI and three runs scored.
Russell's three-bagger led off the game and Ott drove him home two batters later. Ott then tagged up from third to make it a 2-0 EMU lead on a Sonabend sacrifice fly. Miami halved the lead in the bottom of the inning as Alex Johnson doubled and then scored on a Nick Rotola fielding error.
MU scored twice more in the second and piled on five more in the third to take an 8-2 lead. The RedHawks sent 11 men to the plate in the third inning.
The deficit grew to seven runs until the Eagles put up a two-spot in the fifth. Russell reached base on a dropped fly ball and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Ott. Dae Bowden then crossed the plate thanks to a Longo sacrifice fly to cut the Miami lead to 9-4.
EMU scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but the home squad already had 13 runs on the scoreboard and was in no danger of surrendering the lead.
Game Two
Eastern Michigan held a 3-2 edge until the seventh inning when Miami scored four times to take a 6-3 lead. The Eagles tried to get back in the game with a run in the eighth, but Miami held on for a 6-4 victory.
Brian Hill (1-1) pitched 6.2 innings, but gave up 14 hits and six runs (five earned). Devon Bronson toed the rubber for the final 1.1 innings and was the only EMU pitcher in either game not to allow a run.
Sonabend delivered for a second straight game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a double and a run scored. Austin Williams, who took over at third base in game two, hit 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
Nathan Williams pitched six innings for the RedHawks, but it was Shane Kriss (1-0) who was credited with the victory in one inning of work. Williams allowed seven hits and three earned runs, while Kriss retired all batters he faced. Recording his first save of the season was Ryan Powers. Offensively, Kevin Bower went 3-for-5 out of the No. 3 spot and Ryan Elble hit 2-for-4 with three RBI.
EMU tied the score, 1-1, in the top of the second on an RBI single by Williams. Miami regained a one-run lead in the bottom of that frame on a Matt Honchel RBI.
A two-run fourth inning put the Eagles back in command, 4-2. Sonabend led off with a double and John Rubino drove him in on a fielder's choice. Rubino then touched home on a Williams single back up the middle.
That two-run lead held until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the RedHawks loaded the bases with two out. Elble cleared the bases with a double to left center and Walsh followed with a triple to erase the Eagles' lead and take a 6-4 advantage.
Ott doubled and scored in the eighth inning, but the Eagles were unable to muster any offense in the ninth as MU completed the sweep.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: THORESON (1-3)
L: Valente, Brian (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Sonabend, Adam 1
3B: Russell, Daniel 1
RBI: Ott, Sam 2 ; Longo, Lee 2 ; Sonabend, Adam 1
SF: Longo, Lee 1 ; Sonabend, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Russell, Daniel 2 ; Bowden, Dae 1 ; Martin, Jackson 1 ; Ott, Sam 1 ; Sonabend, Adam 1
SB: Ott, Sam 1 ; Rotola, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: JOHNSON, A. 2
RBI: HONCHEL 1 ; JOHNSON, A. 3 ; BOWER 2 ; SLAPPEY 1 ; ELBLE 1 ; WALSH 4
SF: JOHNSON, A. 1 ; BOWER 2 ; ELBLE 1 ; WALSH 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JOHNSON, A. 2 ; CRUMMY 1 ; SLAPPEY 1 ; SEDIO 1 ; ELBLE 2 ; ANDRESEN 3 ; WALSH 3
SB: HONCHEL 1 ; JOHNSON, A. 1 ; SLAPPEY 1 ; ELBLE 1 ; ANDRESEN 1 ; WALSH 1
HBP: ANDRESEN 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
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