Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, March 10
Fresno, Calif.
9 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-11
15
at
11
Fresno State
6-6
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4
5
6
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8
9
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E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
1
0
0
3
6
1
4
15
17
0
Fresno State
1
1
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2
0
4
0
0
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11
15
3
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Baseball Snaps Losing Skid With Furious Comeback Win over Fresno State
3/11/2017 1:54:00 AM | Baseball
EMU trailed by as many as seven in the 15-11 triumph
FRESNO, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team snapped a seven-game losing streak with an explosive 15-11 comeback victory over Fresno State Friday evening, March 10. The Eagles (3-11) scored 14 of their 15 runs over the final four innings to cap a seven-run response.
The 15 runs were the most scored by the Eagles since hanging 16 on Ball State last season, May 7. Leading EMU's 17-hit output was senior Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) who had a career-high three hits, all doubles, with an RBI and three runs scored. It was just the sixth three-double game for EMU since 1999.
Four other Eagles had two-hit games, including redshirt senior Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) who had a pair of RBI's, as well as freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) who notched a career-best four runs batted in. Finally, senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra) had just one hit, but he made it count as it was a pinch-hit, three-run home run to spark the comeback. The round-tripper was his second of the season and 10th of his career.
The back end of the bullpen got it done to keep EMU in the contest, as seniors Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) and Sam Delaplane (Sam Jose, Calif.-Leigh) combined to lock down the Bulldog (6-6) bats in the late innings. Beaton went 3.0 innings, holding Fresno to just one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Delaplane could not earn the save as he entered with a four-run lead, but the veteran faced the minimum with a strikeout and double play.
The Bulldogs struck first when a leadoff single came around on a couple of wild pitches and an RBI groundout. Two more runners would get to second and third later on before the danger was erased to keep it 1-0 after one inning. Another RBI groundout in the second made it a 2-0 ballgame for Fresno early on.
EMU cut it to 2-1 in the third when Peterson singled in a run with two-outs. FS had the immediate response though with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to make it 7-1 after just four innings.
Following a quiet fifth, EMU began to slowly creep back in the sixth with a three-run frame. With runners on first and second, an error following a single from freshman Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) scored one. That was followed by an RBI single from sophomore Drake Lubin (West Bloomfield, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) and RBI groundout by junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) to make it 7-4. Fresno State was not done offensively though, tagging EMU for four runs in the bottom of the frame to take their largest lead of the night, 11-4, after six trips to the plate.
That's when the EMU offense went into overdrive, coming almost all of the way back in the seventh inning. The frame began with a walk, followed by an RBI double from Stidham, and then an RBI triple from redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw), his first since 2014, to make it 11-6 with nobody out.
A hit by pitch put runners on the corners for a pinch-hit RBI single from Peggs to cut it to four. After a fielder's choice got the first out of the inning, Montgomery stepped in as a pinch hitter and made it count, blasting his second homer of the season over the right field fence to cut it to a one-run game, 11-10, heading to the stretch.
Beaton pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and the Eagles' offense continued to roll in the eighth. The bags became loaded with no outs after another Stidham double, a hit by pitch, and an infield single. Peggs then notched his second RBI on a groundout to complete the comeback and tie the game at 11 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Another 1-2-3 inning from Beaton in Fresno's half of the frame set up the ninth.
Williams got it going with a leadoff walk, and after a single and wild pitch, runners were on second and third with no outs. Peterson was the hero, giving EMU the long awaited lead on a sacrifice fly. A passed ball plated an insurance run, and four batters later, with runners on second and third, Peggs broke it open with two-run single to cap the amazing comeback and give EMU the four-run cushion into Fresno's final at bats.
Delaplane was summoned from the pen, and despite giving up a base runner on a hit by pitch, he induced the tailor made 6-4-3 double play to clinch the victory.
EMU looks for the series win in game two of the weekend set tomorrow, Saturday March 11. First pitch from Bob Bennett Stadium is set for another 9 p.m. first pitch.
The 15 runs were the most scored by the Eagles since hanging 16 on Ball State last season, May 7. Leading EMU's 17-hit output was senior Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) who had a career-high three hits, all doubles, with an RBI and three runs scored. It was just the sixth three-double game for EMU since 1999.
Four other Eagles had two-hit games, including redshirt senior Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) who had a pair of RBI's, as well as freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) who notched a career-best four runs batted in. Finally, senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra) had just one hit, but he made it count as it was a pinch-hit, three-run home run to spark the comeback. The round-tripper was his second of the season and 10th of his career.
The back end of the bullpen got it done to keep EMU in the contest, as seniors Matthew Beaton (Guelph, Ontario-Bishop Macdonnell Catholic) and Sam Delaplane (Sam Jose, Calif.-Leigh) combined to lock down the Bulldog (6-6) bats in the late innings. Beaton went 3.0 innings, holding Fresno to just one run on two hits with two strikeouts. Delaplane could not earn the save as he entered with a four-run lead, but the veteran faced the minimum with a strikeout and double play.
The Bulldogs struck first when a leadoff single came around on a couple of wild pitches and an RBI groundout. Two more runners would get to second and third later on before the danger was erased to keep it 1-0 after one inning. Another RBI groundout in the second made it a 2-0 ballgame for Fresno early on.
EMU cut it to 2-1 in the third when Peterson singled in a run with two-outs. FS had the immediate response though with three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to make it 7-1 after just four innings.
Following a quiet fifth, EMU began to slowly creep back in the sixth with a three-run frame. With runners on first and second, an error following a single from freshman Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) scored one. That was followed by an RBI single from sophomore Drake Lubin (West Bloomfield, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) and RBI groundout by junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) to make it 7-4. Fresno State was not done offensively though, tagging EMU for four runs in the bottom of the frame to take their largest lead of the night, 11-4, after six trips to the plate.
That's when the EMU offense went into overdrive, coming almost all of the way back in the seventh inning. The frame began with a walk, followed by an RBI double from Stidham, and then an RBI triple from redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw), his first since 2014, to make it 11-6 with nobody out.
A hit by pitch put runners on the corners for a pinch-hit RBI single from Peggs to cut it to four. After a fielder's choice got the first out of the inning, Montgomery stepped in as a pinch hitter and made it count, blasting his second homer of the season over the right field fence to cut it to a one-run game, 11-10, heading to the stretch.
Beaton pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, and the Eagles' offense continued to roll in the eighth. The bags became loaded with no outs after another Stidham double, a hit by pitch, and an infield single. Peggs then notched his second RBI on a groundout to complete the comeback and tie the game at 11 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Another 1-2-3 inning from Beaton in Fresno's half of the frame set up the ninth.
Williams got it going with a leadoff walk, and after a single and wild pitch, runners were on second and third with no outs. Peterson was the hero, giving EMU the long awaited lead on a sacrifice fly. A passed ball plated an insurance run, and four batters later, with runners on second and third, Peggs broke it open with two-run single to cap the amazing comeback and give EMU the four-run cushion into Fresno's final at bats.
Delaplane was summoned from the pen, and despite giving up a base runner on a hit by pitch, he induced the tailor made 6-4-3 double play to clinch the victory.
EMU looks for the series win in game two of the weekend set tomorrow, Saturday March 11. First pitch from Bob Bennett Stadium is set for another 9 p.m. first pitch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beaton, Matthew (1-1)
L: GONZALEZ, Edgar (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Stidham, Jeremy 3
3B: Gill, Marquise 1
HR: Montgomery, John 1
RBI: Lubin, Drake 1 ; Montgomery, John 3 ; Williams, Brennan 1 ; Peterson, Jordan 2 ; Stidham, Jeremy 1 ; Gill, Marquise 1 ; Peggs, Drake 4
SF: Peterson, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lubin, Drake 1 ; Montgomery, John 1 ; Williams, Brennan 1 ; Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Stidham, Jeremy 3 ; Gill, Marquise 1 ; Owings, Zachary 2 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1 ; Hager, Devin 2
SB: Stidham, Jeremy 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1
HBP: Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Gill, Marquise 1 ; Owings, Zachary 2
Batting:
2B: AKINS, Jared 1 ; ARRUDA, Aaron 1 ; MEDRANO, Jesse 2
3B: ASHFORD, Zach 1
HR: SILVA, Scott 1 ; STONE, Jake 1
RBI: SILVA, Scott 2 ; AKINS, Jared 2 ; ARRUDA, Aaron 2 ; STONE, Jake 2 ; MEDRANO, Jesse 2 ; BINS, Carter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GUIBOR, Austin 2 ; SILVA, Scott 2 ; AKINS, Jared 2 ; ARRUDA, Aaron 2 ; STONE, Jake 1 ; ASHFORD, Zach 1 ; BATESOLE, Korby 1
CS: GUIBOR, Austin 1 ; ASHFORD, Zach 1
HBP: MEDRANO, Jesse 1
Game Leaders
c/cf
AB
6
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
ph/2b
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
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