Saint Mary’s Takes Two from EMU Baseball in Saturday's Doubleheader

MORAGA, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped a pair of games Saint Mary's College Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21. The Eagles fell, 2-1, in the first seven-inning affair at Louis Guisto Field before the Gaels took game two, 6-1. The doubleheader setback pushes EMU down to a 1-5 record, while SMC improves to 5-2 with the sweep.

EMU will look to even the series against the Gaels in Sunday's series finale, Feb. 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT as the Eagles continue their nine-game swing through the state of California.

GAME 1 – Saint Mary's 2, Eastern Michigan 1
Eastern Michigan dropped the first leg of a doubleheader, 2-1, when Saint Mary's College recorded a walkoff base knock in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Eagles managed just two hits, while the Gaels saw Corbin Burnes toss a complete game, earning his second win of the season.

Mitchell McGeein (Calgary, Alberta-Vauxhall) posted one of the Eagles' two hits in the game when he hit a solo homer, scoring the only run for Eastern Michigan. It was McGeein's third home run of the season and the third-straight game where the Calgary, Alberta native has hit a long ball. EMU's other hit came off of the bat of John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra). The Gaels scored two runs on eight hits in the contest.

Charlie Land (Wheat Ridge, Colo.-Wheat Ridge-Mesa C.C.) made the start for Eastern, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on six hits. Land struck out four, while walking just one in the game. Devon Bronson (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson) was saddled with the loss for EMU. Bronson (0-1) tossed 0.2 innings, while Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) inherited one of Bronson's base runners, later allowing him to score, charging Bronson with the loss. Burnes (2-0) was the starter for the Gaels and he allowed just two hits, while striking out eight. His only blemish was when McGeein lifted one over the fence in the top half of the second.

Saint Mary's opened up the scoring when Anthony Gonsolin hit a two-out double to left centerfield before Collin Ferguson singled him home on an RBI single into center, giving the Gaels a 1-0 lead.

The advantage did not last long when McGeein stepped to the plate with one out in the top of the second. The junior ripped a 1-1 pitch over the leftfield fence to knot the game at one run apiece.

There was no more scoring until the final half inning of the game when the Gaels walked off with the victory. Brett Rasso led off the inning with a bunt single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Bronson walked Zach Kirtley, Head Coach Mark Van Ameyde went to the bullpen, opting for Beaton. A wild pitch started Beaton's day, allowing runners to advance to second and third before Gonsolin hit a single up the middle to win the game for SMC.

GAME 2 – Saint Mary's 6, Eastern Michigan 1
In the nightcap, Saint Mary's jumped in board with a run in the first inning as Brett Rasso scored on a ground out to second base after advancing to third on a throwing error. The run came on the heels of a thwarted EMU scoring opportunity in the top of the frame when the Eagles loaded the bases but could not capitalize.

SMC expanded the advantage to 2-0 in the fourth via another EMU error, but the Eagles would cut into the deficit in the sixth when McGeein came around to score on a double down the right field line by catcher Adam Dennison (Broadview Heights, Ohio- Padua Franciscan) for his first extra base hit and RBI of the season.

The Gaels added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seven innings to go on top 6-1. Junior Michael Marsinek (Streetboro, Ohio-Walsh Jesuit) was touched up for a pair in unearned runs in his only inning of while sophomore Sam Delaplane (San Jose, Calif.-Leigh) surrendered two more in the following stanza.

Eastern Michigan was unable to mount a rally despite leaving runners on base in each of the final three innings.

In the ninth, earning his first start freshman David Lett (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington) singled up the middle on a 3-2 offering before taking second on a passed ball. Junior Austin Wilson (Valrico, Fla.-Bloomingdale Sr.) followed with a walk prompting SMC to make a call to the bullpen for Gonsolin. Gonsolin was wild with his delivery as he loaded the bases, but still found a way to battle back to get Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) to ground into a double play before striking out McGeein to end the contest.

The Eagles collected seven hits in the contest, but were 1-for-11 at the dish with runners in scoring position. Junior Augie Gallardo (Hemet, Calif.-Hemet-Mt. San Jacinto College) was saddled with the loss in his first career start, tossing 5.0 innings striking out five but walking four. Left-handed starter Johnny York picked up the win for Saint Mary's tossing 111 pitches in 6.2 innings of work while striking out six.

Saint Mary’s Takes Two from EMU Baseball in Saturday's Doubleheader

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Team Stats

John Montgomery

Mitchell McGeein

John Rubino

Austin Wilson

Players Mentioned

Matthew Beaton

Devon Bronson

Sam Delaplane

Adam Dennison

Augie Gallardo

Charlie Land

David Lett

Michael Marsinek

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

Austin Wilson

Players Mentioned

Matthew Beaton

Devon Bronson

Sam Delaplane

Adam Dennison

Augie Gallardo

Charlie Land

David Lett

Michael Marsinek

Mitchell McGeein

John Montgomery

Jordan Peterson

Austin Wilson

Eastern Michigan Athletics