Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, March 18
Birmingham, Ala.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-15
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at
7
Samford
12-6
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9
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Eastern Michigan
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Samford
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
EMU's Late Surge Not Enough in Defeat to Samford
3/18/2017 6:43:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern's had the tying run at the dish in the ninth inning
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team had the tying run at the plate in the ninth, but could not complete the comeback in a 7-3 setback at the hands of Samford University, Saturday afternoon, March 18, at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The Eagles (3-15) had the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth, but Samford's (12-6) closer secured the victory with his eighth save of the season.
EMU scattered nine hits among eight batters, led by redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) who had his second straight multi-hit game in a 2-for-4 day. Two of Eastern's three runs were driven in by senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), including one on a solo home run, his team-leading third of the year.
Sophomore Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice) had a solid day in relief, keeping EMU in the game. The righty went four innings, allowing just two runs and had a season-high four K's.
The Bulldogs were the first to strike, in the second inning. With the bases loaded, SU got a two-run base hit to take an early 2-0 lead. That lead doubled in the third frame when a two-run homer cleared the left field fence for a 4-0 Bulldog advantage.
EMU's first hit and run came in the fourth in the form of Montgomery's solo home run. Samford got the run back in the bottom of the fourth though, maintaining the four-run deficit into the middle innings.
Following a quick fifth, EMU continued to chip away in the sixth. With the bases loaded after three singles, Montgomery drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Samford was able to sneak their way out of the inning though, keeping it 5-2.
With shutdown innings from Feldman in the fifth and sixth, EMU was hanging around in the seventh before SU got another insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with another solo shot. With just two innings to play, EMU still faced a four-run hole.
The deficit went to five in the eighth after SU plated another run, making the tally 7-2 into EMU's final turn at the dish. EMU would not go away quietly though.
The Eagles quickly got two runners on with base hits, bringing up freshman Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline). The rookie came through with EMU's third straight single off the wall in left field, scoring a run. A fourth straight hit loaded the bags and brought the tying run to the plate, which summoned Samford's closer from the pen for the save opportunity.
He induced a 1-2-3 double play on his first batter, placing runners on second and third with two outs. He then locked down the game with a strikeout to save the 7-3 victory for SU.
The weekend series finale will come tomorrow, March 19, from Joe Lee Griffin Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Eagles (3-15) had the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth, but Samford's (12-6) closer secured the victory with his eighth save of the season.
EMU scattered nine hits among eight batters, led by redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) who had his second straight multi-hit game in a 2-for-4 day. Two of Eastern's three runs were driven in by senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), including one on a solo home run, his team-leading third of the year.
Sophomore Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice) had a solid day in relief, keeping EMU in the game. The righty went four innings, allowing just two runs and had a season-high four K's.
The Bulldogs were the first to strike, in the second inning. With the bases loaded, SU got a two-run base hit to take an early 2-0 lead. That lead doubled in the third frame when a two-run homer cleared the left field fence for a 4-0 Bulldog advantage.
EMU's first hit and run came in the fourth in the form of Montgomery's solo home run. Samford got the run back in the bottom of the fourth though, maintaining the four-run deficit into the middle innings.
Following a quick fifth, EMU continued to chip away in the sixth. With the bases loaded after three singles, Montgomery drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Samford was able to sneak their way out of the inning though, keeping it 5-2.
With shutdown innings from Feldman in the fifth and sixth, EMU was hanging around in the seventh before SU got another insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with another solo shot. With just two innings to play, EMU still faced a four-run hole.
The deficit went to five in the eighth after SU plated another run, making the tally 7-2 into EMU's final turn at the dish. EMU would not go away quietly though.
The Eagles quickly got two runners on with base hits, bringing up freshman Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline). The rookie came through with EMU's third straight single off the wall in left field, scoring a run. A fourth straight hit loaded the bags and brought the tying run to the plate, which summoned Samford's closer from the pen for the save opportunity.
He induced a 1-2-3 double play on his first batter, placing runners on second and third with two outs. He then locked down the game with a strikeout to save the 7-3 victory for SU.
The weekend series finale will come tomorrow, March 19, from Joe Lee Griffin Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jesse McCord (2-2)
L: Allen, Brad (0-3)
S: Wyatt Burns (8)
Batting:
HR: Montgomery, John 1
RBI: Montgomery, John 2 ; Owings, Zachary 1
SF: Montgomery, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Montgomery, John 1 ; Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
SB: Stidham, Jeremy 1
Batting:
2B: Kevin Williams, Jr. 1 ; Austin Edens 1 ; Taylor Garris 1
HR: Kevin Williams, Jr. 1 ; Austin Edens 1
RBI: T.J. Dixon 3 ; Branden Fryman 1 ; Kevin Williams, Jr. 1 ; Austin Edens 2
SH: Taylor Garris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kevin Williams, Jr. 2 ; Austin Edens 1 ; Anthony Mulrine 1 ; Ayrton Schafer 2 ; Sam McWhorter 1
SB: Sam McWhorter 1
HBP: Ayrton Schafer 1
PO: T.J. Dixon 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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