Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, May 4
Kalamazoo, Mich. (Homer Stryker Field)
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
EMU Bats Limited in Rivalry Rubber Match, Falling 6-1 to WMU
5/4/2014 3:50:00 PM | Baseball
Eagles tally three hits in a five-run loss to in-state rival Western Michigan Sunday afternoon, May 4
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Much like the first game of the series against Western Michigan University, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team ran into a buzzsaw on the mound as the Eagles were limited to just three hits in a 6-1 defeat Sunday afternoon, May 4, at Homer Stryker Field. WMU starting pitcher Keegan Akin threw the Broncos' second complete game of the series, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and four walks to the EMU bats.
Marquise Gill, Sam Ott and John Rubino tallied hits for the Green and White (17-29, 4-17 MAC) with Gill's base hit in the sixth breaking up Akin's perfect game. The shortstop also scored the Eagles' only run of the game. After failing to get a runner on base in the first five innings, Eastern found ways to reach in each of the final four innings. However, the Broncos (19-24, 8-13 MAC) prevented the Eagles from crossing the plate to claim the series with a five-run victory.
After EMU starting pitcher Jake Andrews (3-5) left the game with just over two innings of work, freshman Tyler Russell tossed the final six innings of the contest. Andrews gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits, while Russell surrendered two runs on three hits to go along with a pair of strikeouts. In the field, the Eagles made a pair of errors that led to one WMU run.
As a team, the Broncos scored six runs on eight hits while also committing one error that allowed Eastern's only run. Western leadoff hitter Kurt Hoekstra paces the Broncos' offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included two runs and three RBI. Senior Dan Shutes also recorded two hits and three at bats as well as crossing home once.
Western Michigan used three singles and a double to score a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. In the top of the third, Russell came out of the bullpen after Andrews hit the leadoff hitter with a pitch. Despite the inherited runner, the freshman remained calm by forcing a flyout and a double play to get out of the inning unharmed.
Two more run in the bottom of the fifth brought the deficit to six, but EMU countered with one run in the top of the sixth. Gill smacked a single up the middle to break up the perfect game and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ty Gilmore. The speedy sophomore proceeded to scamper across the plate on a throwing error by WMU catcher Brett Sunde. Austin Wilson walked and Ott singled to keep the inning going; however, the home team turned a quick double play to end the Eastern threat.
Russell did not allow Western to score in the final three innings, but the Eagles could not muster any runs themselves. Five Eagles were left on base in the last four innings to allow the Broncos to hang out for the rubber match win.
EMU will still face off against opponents from the Great Lakes State next week. First, the Eagles travel to East Lansing, Mich. to battle Michigan State University, May 7, in hopes of avenging a 5-3 loss to the Spartans at Oestrike Stadium earlier this season, April 1. After the mid-week matchup, Eastern returns home to host another in-state rival, Central Michigan University, in the final home MAC series of the season for the Green and White, May 9-11.
Marquise Gill, Sam Ott and John Rubino tallied hits for the Green and White (17-29, 4-17 MAC) with Gill's base hit in the sixth breaking up Akin's perfect game. The shortstop also scored the Eagles' only run of the game. After failing to get a runner on base in the first five innings, Eastern found ways to reach in each of the final four innings. However, the Broncos (19-24, 8-13 MAC) prevented the Eagles from crossing the plate to claim the series with a five-run victory.
After EMU starting pitcher Jake Andrews (3-5) left the game with just over two innings of work, freshman Tyler Russell tossed the final six innings of the contest. Andrews gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits, while Russell surrendered two runs on three hits to go along with a pair of strikeouts. In the field, the Eagles made a pair of errors that led to one WMU run.
As a team, the Broncos scored six runs on eight hits while also committing one error that allowed Eastern's only run. Western leadoff hitter Kurt Hoekstra paces the Broncos' offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included two runs and three RBI. Senior Dan Shutes also recorded two hits and three at bats as well as crossing home once.
Western Michigan used three singles and a double to score a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. In the top of the third, Russell came out of the bullpen after Andrews hit the leadoff hitter with a pitch. Despite the inherited runner, the freshman remained calm by forcing a flyout and a double play to get out of the inning unharmed.
Two more run in the bottom of the fifth brought the deficit to six, but EMU countered with one run in the top of the sixth. Gill smacked a single up the middle to break up the perfect game and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ty Gilmore. The speedy sophomore proceeded to scamper across the plate on a throwing error by WMU catcher Brett Sunde. Austin Wilson walked and Ott singled to keep the inning going; however, the home team turned a quick double play to end the Eastern threat.
Russell did not allow Western to score in the final three innings, but the Eagles could not muster any runs themselves. Five Eagles were left on base in the last four innings to allow the Broncos to hang out for the rubber match win.
EMU will still face off against opponents from the Great Lakes State next week. First, the Eagles travel to East Lansing, Mich. to battle Michigan State University, May 7, in hopes of avenging a 5-3 loss to the Spartans at Oestrike Stadium earlier this season, April 1. After the mid-week matchup, Eastern returns home to host another in-state rival, Central Michigan University, in the final home MAC series of the season for the Green and White, May 9-11.
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