Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 21
Akron, Ohio
4:30 p.m.
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Drop Mid-American Conference Opener to Akron, 6-3
3/21/2014 8:26:00 PM | Baseball
EMU baseball's four game-winning streak comes to an end at the hands of the Zips
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- After winning the past four games, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team saw its winning streak come to an end Friday evening, March 21, as the Eagles fell 6-3 to the University of Akron in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. Following a three and a half hour delay due to snow, the conference season finally got underway at Lee R. Jackson Field in Akron, Ohio.
Both teams pounded out eight hits, but it was the Zips (8-10, 1-0 MAC) who made them count, outscoring the Green and White (8-9, 0-1 MAC) by three. Akron used a big four-run inning to break a scoreless tie and keep the lead for the rest of the game.
Lee Longo tallied a pair of hits, including his 11th double of the season, to pace the EMU bats while reaching base for the 26th consecutive game, a streak that dates back to last season. Sam Ott went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Adam Sonabend smacked a double to increase his reached base streak to 14 contests. EMU ace Jake Andrews (2-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 6.1 innings to take the loss.
Akron leadoff hitter Kris Simonton did his job, getting on base three times and scoring twice in a 3-for-5 performance. Brian Lees added an RBI double that brought in two Zips, and freshman Masashi Sakamoto (1-0) kept the EMU sluggers in check by surrendering two hits in 4.1 scoreless innings of work.
The Zips scored first with four runs in the bottom of the third. Akron's first two hitters reached base via a walk and single before advancing 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. Another walk loaded the bases, and Andrews quickly found himself with nowhere to put Brady Stewart, who stepped up to the dish. Stewart reached safely on a muffed throw from Sonabend to put UA on the board. As the next batter at the plate, Lees doubled in a pair of Zips until a groundout allowed Stewart to cross the plate. When the damage was done, the Eagles found themselves down four.
Despite the big inning by Akron, EMU responded with three runs in the next two innings to cut the deficit to one. Mitchell McGeein walked with one out in the innings before taking the turn for third base on a double to left by Sonabend. With two of his teammates in scoring position, Michael Mioduszewski looked to have completed his task by hitting a ball to center that would have scored McGeein on a sacrifice fly. However, the ball was dropped by Akron center fielder Devan Ahart, and Mioduszewski scampered to second safely as McGeein scored. The next batter, Ty Gilmore, plated Sonabend on an RBI groundout to the second baseman.
In the top of the fifth, Austin Wilson walked before taking second for his eighth steal of the seasons, a mark that ties a team best with fellow Eagle John Rubino. Inching closer to home proved to be important as an Ott single brought the speedy center fielder around to score, making it a 4-3 game in favor of Akron.
Akron tagged on back-to-back insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to make it difficult for EMU to mount a comeback. The Eagles were able to make contact at the plate against Sakamoto as the Akron reliever did not record a strikeout; nonetheless, the EMU bats seemed to find the gloves of the Zips to allow UA to hold on for the three-run decision.
Eastern will look to get back on the winning track as the series wraps up Saturday, March 22. A doubleheader between the two cross-divisional foes is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The twinbill will mark the fifth of the season for EMU as the Eagles boast a 5-3 record when playing twice in one day, including winning the last four doubleheader games. Junior Ryan Lavoie is scheduled to start on the mound in game one against Akron's JT Brubaker. For the series finale, redshirt-senior Steve Weber will look to close out the opening MAC series with a victory against counterpart Myles McVeigh.
Both teams pounded out eight hits, but it was the Zips (8-10, 1-0 MAC) who made them count, outscoring the Green and White (8-9, 0-1 MAC) by three. Akron used a big four-run inning to break a scoreless tie and keep the lead for the rest of the game.
Lee Longo tallied a pair of hits, including his 11th double of the season, to pace the EMU bats while reaching base for the 26th consecutive game, a streak that dates back to last season. Sam Ott went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Adam Sonabend smacked a double to increase his reached base streak to 14 contests. EMU ace Jake Andrews (2-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 6.1 innings to take the loss.
Akron leadoff hitter Kris Simonton did his job, getting on base three times and scoring twice in a 3-for-5 performance. Brian Lees added an RBI double that brought in two Zips, and freshman Masashi Sakamoto (1-0) kept the EMU sluggers in check by surrendering two hits in 4.1 scoreless innings of work.
The Zips scored first with four runs in the bottom of the third. Akron's first two hitters reached base via a walk and single before advancing 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. Another walk loaded the bases, and Andrews quickly found himself with nowhere to put Brady Stewart, who stepped up to the dish. Stewart reached safely on a muffed throw from Sonabend to put UA on the board. As the next batter at the plate, Lees doubled in a pair of Zips until a groundout allowed Stewart to cross the plate. When the damage was done, the Eagles found themselves down four.
Despite the big inning by Akron, EMU responded with three runs in the next two innings to cut the deficit to one. Mitchell McGeein walked with one out in the innings before taking the turn for third base on a double to left by Sonabend. With two of his teammates in scoring position, Michael Mioduszewski looked to have completed his task by hitting a ball to center that would have scored McGeein on a sacrifice fly. However, the ball was dropped by Akron center fielder Devan Ahart, and Mioduszewski scampered to second safely as McGeein scored. The next batter, Ty Gilmore, plated Sonabend on an RBI groundout to the second baseman.
In the top of the fifth, Austin Wilson walked before taking second for his eighth steal of the seasons, a mark that ties a team best with fellow Eagle John Rubino. Inching closer to home proved to be important as an Ott single brought the speedy center fielder around to score, making it a 4-3 game in favor of Akron.
Akron tagged on back-to-back insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to make it difficult for EMU to mount a comeback. The Eagles were able to make contact at the plate against Sakamoto as the Akron reliever did not record a strikeout; nonetheless, the EMU bats seemed to find the gloves of the Zips to allow UA to hold on for the three-run decision.
Eastern will look to get back on the winning track as the series wraps up Saturday, March 22. A doubleheader between the two cross-divisional foes is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The twinbill will mark the fifth of the season for EMU as the Eagles boast a 5-3 record when playing twice in one day, including winning the last four doubleheader games. Junior Ryan Lavoie is scheduled to start on the mound in game one against Akron's JT Brubaker. For the series finale, redshirt-senior Steve Weber will look to close out the opening MAC series with a victory against counterpart Myles McVeigh.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SAKAMOTO, M. (1-0)
L: Andrews, Jake (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Longo, Lee 1 ; Sonabend, Adam 1
RBI: Ott, Sam 1 ; Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Gilmore, Ty 1
SH: Mioduszewski, Mike 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilson, Austin 1 ; McGeein, Mitchell 1 ; Sonabend, Adam 1
SB: Wilson, Austin 1
HBP: Longo, Lee 1 ; McGeein, Mitchell 1
Batting:
2B: LEES, B. 1
RBI: STEWART, B. 1 ; LEES, B. 2 ; IERO, D. 1 ; SHELTROWN, J 1
SH: HAVRILAK, J. 1 ; MEEKER, J. 1
SF: STEWART, B. 1 ; SHELTROWN, J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SIMONTON, K. 2 ; AHART, D. 1 ; STEWART, B. 1 ; IERO, D. 1 ; SHELTROWN, J 1
SB: AHART, D. 2
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
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