Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 19
Macon, Ga.
11:45 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-11
4
vs
3
Belmont
21-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Belmont
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
3
6
1
Eastern Michigan
1
2
0
1
0
0
X
4
9
1
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Sweep Final Day of Mercer Bear Classic
3/19/2017 1:45:00 PM | Softball
The Eagles moved to 11-11 on the season, their best 22-game start since 2011
MACON, Ga. (EMUEagles.com) – Strong pitching paired with a balanced day at the plate led the Eastern Michigan University softball team to a sweep on its final day of action at the Mercer Bear Classic, Sunday, March 19. The Eagles (11-11) run-ruled Savannah State University, 10-1, behind four home runs, before avenging a previous loss to Belmont University, 4-3. With the sweep, the Green and White moved to 11-11 on the season, its best start since 2011.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 10, Savannah State 1 (5 inn.)
As a team, the Green and White broke out the bats for a season-high 13 hits. Eight different Eagles notched a hit, with four players picking up multiple knocks. Senior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) came through with a 3-for-3 day, including two home runs, four RBIs, and two runs scored to go along with a walk. Fellow senior Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown) also went perfect at the dish, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Sophomore Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and junior Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) added two hits apiece.
Sophomore Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) was spot-on for Eastern Michigan in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball. Miranda scattered six hits and struck out a season-high five to move to 2-2 on the season.
Kriegshauser put the Eagles in front right away, driving the second pitch of the game over the fence for her team-leading fourth home run of the weekend. EMU loaded the bases from there, but an infield double play abruptly ended the Green and White's threat.
Miranda pitched around a leadoff single to send the Eagles back to the plate, looking to build on their 1-0 lead. Hostetler got things going with a double down the left field line. Sophomore Lucy Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif.-Stockdale) then drew a one-out walk to put two on for Kriegshauser. The New Lenox, Ill. native came through, ripping an RBI through the left side to score Hostetler. Wagner brought Lopez across on a sacrifice fly moments later, pushing Eastern Michigan's lead to 3-0.
Akles extended EMU's lead to 4-0 with a two-out round-tripper to left center, her second of the season, but SSU got the run back in the bottom of the third. Savannah State broke the shutout in its half of the inning, plating a run on three hits. Miranda retired the first batter of the frame before issuing a walk to put one on with one away. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases, at which point SSU slipped a single through the left side to bring a run home. Miranda settled in retiring the next two batters, she sent the next batter down looking on three straight pitches and then induced an inning-ending groundout to send the game into the fourth.
Leading 4-1, the Eagles were primed to expand on their lead but could not come through. A Kriegshauser walk was followed by a single by Wagner, putting two on with one out, but a pair of fly outs stranded three and sent SSU back to the plate.
Miranda made quick work of the Lady Tigers with a 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by two strikeouts, to maintain the 4-1 score into the fifth.
The Eagles broke the game open in their fifth trip to the plate, erupting for six runs on six hits and two errors. Akles led the frame off with a single to center and
Hostetler reached on an error to put runners on the corners for senior Katy Wyman (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Portage Central). Wyman did just what she needed to, hitting a ground ball to the right side to score the runner from third before an RBI single off the bat of Lopez brought home another run. Krieghauser cleared the bases with her second dinger of the game, this one to straight-away center field, to put the Green and White in front, 8-1. Wagner kept the inning alive with a single, bringing junior Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) to the dish. The Riverside, Calif. native crushed the 1-1 delivery to left center for a two-run homer, her second of the season.
Miranda shut the Savannah State offense down in the bottom of the fifth, lifting EMU to a 10-1 run-rule victory.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 4, Belmont 3
Eastern Michigan's hot hitting carried over to its final game of the weekend, as the Green and White pounded out nine hits spread out among eight Eagles. Kriegshauser led the way with a 2-for-4 showing, with an RBI and a run scored on two doubles. Meanwhile, Wagner, Olmos, and Lopez registered one RBI each for Eastern.
Continuing her solid weekend, junior Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) put forth another stout performance in the circle for the Eagles. Trujillo struck out four and walked one over 7.0 innings of work, while yielding three runs on six hits to move to 7-5 on the season.
EMU jumped out a 1-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of a leadoff double from Kriegshauser. Wagner's sacrifice bunt moved Kriegshauser to third, setting up Olmos for the RBI. Trujillo returned to the circle in the second, striking out two, to bring the EMU offense back to the plate.
Another leadoff double, this time off the bat of Hostetler, kept the Eagle offense rolling. Wyman advanced Hostetler to third and Lopez brought her home with a one-out double to push Eastern's lead to 2-0. A dropped third strike allowed Lopez to scoot into third with two away, brining Wagner to the dish. The senior catcher dropped an RBI single in right, chasing Belmont's starting pitcher from the game. The switch in the circle put an end to EMU's hit barrage, sending the game into the third with Eastern clinging to a 3-0 advantage.
Belmont got on the board in the fourth with a solo shot after a quick third inning for both sides. The Bruins' home run cut EMU's lead to 3-1, but the Green and White got the run back in its half on an RBI double. Wyman singled and was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. Junior Angel Schilke (Saline, Mich.-Saline) used her wheels to move into second on a sacrifice bunt, before coming around to score on Kriegshauser's two-bagger to left.
Trujillo found herself in some trouble in the sixth, as an error and a single put two Bruins aboard with no outs. The jam did little to phase the Whittier, Calif. native though, as Trujillo retired the next three batters she faced to escape unscathed and keep Eastern's 4-1 lead intact.
Following a 1-2-3 inning for the Eagles' offense, Belmont came to the plate for its final at bats. After a double, the Bruins used an RBI single to cut EMU's advantage to two, 4-2. Electing to make a pitching change, the Green and White handed the ball to freshman Savanah White (Visalia, Calif-Redwood) to close out the game. Inheriting a runner on first with one out, White walked the first batter she faced to put two on with Belmont's leadoff hitter at the dish. After another walk loaded the bases, the Eagles brought Trujillo back to the circle to finish what she started. Yielding an RBI single that clipped EMU's lead to one, 4-3, Trujillo came through with a game-ending 1-2-3 double play to preserve the victory.
Next up for the Eagles is a midweek meeting with Washtenaw County rival, the University of Michigan, Wednesday, March 22. First pitch between EMU and No. 17 Michigan is set for 4 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 10, Savannah State 1 (5 inn.)
As a team, the Green and White broke out the bats for a season-high 13 hits. Eight different Eagles notched a hit, with four players picking up multiple knocks. Senior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) came through with a 3-for-3 day, including two home runs, four RBIs, and two runs scored to go along with a walk. Fellow senior Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown) also went perfect at the dish, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Sophomore Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) and junior Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) added two hits apiece.
Sophomore Nicolle Miranda (Wilmington, Calif.-Port of Los Angeles) was spot-on for Eastern Michigan in the circle, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball. Miranda scattered six hits and struck out a season-high five to move to 2-2 on the season.
Kriegshauser put the Eagles in front right away, driving the second pitch of the game over the fence for her team-leading fourth home run of the weekend. EMU loaded the bases from there, but an infield double play abruptly ended the Green and White's threat.
Miranda pitched around a leadoff single to send the Eagles back to the plate, looking to build on their 1-0 lead. Hostetler got things going with a double down the left field line. Sophomore Lucy Lopez (Bakersfield, Calif.-Stockdale) then drew a one-out walk to put two on for Kriegshauser. The New Lenox, Ill. native came through, ripping an RBI through the left side to score Hostetler. Wagner brought Lopez across on a sacrifice fly moments later, pushing Eastern Michigan's lead to 3-0.
Akles extended EMU's lead to 4-0 with a two-out round-tripper to left center, her second of the season, but SSU got the run back in the bottom of the third. Savannah State broke the shutout in its half of the inning, plating a run on three hits. Miranda retired the first batter of the frame before issuing a walk to put one on with one away. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases, at which point SSU slipped a single through the left side to bring a run home. Miranda settled in retiring the next two batters, she sent the next batter down looking on three straight pitches and then induced an inning-ending groundout to send the game into the fourth.
Leading 4-1, the Eagles were primed to expand on their lead but could not come through. A Kriegshauser walk was followed by a single by Wagner, putting two on with one out, but a pair of fly outs stranded three and sent SSU back to the plate.
Miranda made quick work of the Lady Tigers with a 1-2-3 inning, highlighted by two strikeouts, to maintain the 4-1 score into the fifth.
The Eagles broke the game open in their fifth trip to the plate, erupting for six runs on six hits and two errors. Akles led the frame off with a single to center and
Hostetler reached on an error to put runners on the corners for senior Katy Wyman (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Portage Central). Wyman did just what she needed to, hitting a ground ball to the right side to score the runner from third before an RBI single off the bat of Lopez brought home another run. Krieghauser cleared the bases with her second dinger of the game, this one to straight-away center field, to put the Green and White in front, 8-1. Wagner kept the inning alive with a single, bringing junior Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) to the dish. The Riverside, Calif. native crushed the 1-1 delivery to left center for a two-run homer, her second of the season.
Miranda shut the Savannah State offense down in the bottom of the fifth, lifting EMU to a 10-1 run-rule victory.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 4, Belmont 3
Eastern Michigan's hot hitting carried over to its final game of the weekend, as the Green and White pounded out nine hits spread out among eight Eagles. Kriegshauser led the way with a 2-for-4 showing, with an RBI and a run scored on two doubles. Meanwhile, Wagner, Olmos, and Lopez registered one RBI each for Eastern.
Continuing her solid weekend, junior Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) put forth another stout performance in the circle for the Eagles. Trujillo struck out four and walked one over 7.0 innings of work, while yielding three runs on six hits to move to 7-5 on the season.
EMU jumped out a 1-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of a leadoff double from Kriegshauser. Wagner's sacrifice bunt moved Kriegshauser to third, setting up Olmos for the RBI. Trujillo returned to the circle in the second, striking out two, to bring the EMU offense back to the plate.
Another leadoff double, this time off the bat of Hostetler, kept the Eagle offense rolling. Wyman advanced Hostetler to third and Lopez brought her home with a one-out double to push Eastern's lead to 2-0. A dropped third strike allowed Lopez to scoot into third with two away, brining Wagner to the dish. The senior catcher dropped an RBI single in right, chasing Belmont's starting pitcher from the game. The switch in the circle put an end to EMU's hit barrage, sending the game into the third with Eastern clinging to a 3-0 advantage.
Belmont got on the board in the fourth with a solo shot after a quick third inning for both sides. The Bruins' home run cut EMU's lead to 3-1, but the Green and White got the run back in its half on an RBI double. Wyman singled and was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. Junior Angel Schilke (Saline, Mich.-Saline) used her wheels to move into second on a sacrifice bunt, before coming around to score on Kriegshauser's two-bagger to left.
Trujillo found herself in some trouble in the sixth, as an error and a single put two Bruins aboard with no outs. The jam did little to phase the Whittier, Calif. native though, as Trujillo retired the next three batters she faced to escape unscathed and keep Eastern's 4-1 lead intact.
Following a 1-2-3 inning for the Eagles' offense, Belmont came to the plate for its final at bats. After a double, the Bruins used an RBI single to cut EMU's advantage to two, 4-2. Electing to make a pitching change, the Green and White handed the ball to freshman Savanah White (Visalia, Calif-Redwood) to close out the game. Inheriting a runner on first with one out, White walked the first batter she faced to put two on with Belmont's leadoff hitter at the dish. After another walk loaded the bases, the Eagles brought Trujillo back to the circle to finish what she started. Yielding an RBI single that clipped EMU's lead to one, 4-3, Trujillo came through with a game-ending 1-2-3 double play to preserve the victory.
Next up for the Eagles is a midweek meeting with Washtenaw County rival, the University of Michigan, Wednesday, March 22. First pitch between EMU and No. 17 Michigan is set for 4 p.m. in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Trujillo, Trisha (7-5)
L: LEE (8-3)
Batting:
2B: SIMS 1
HR: DELONEY 1
RBI: WELLS 1 ; DELONEY 1 ; BAKER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DELONEY 1 ; SIMS 1 ; BAKER 1
Batting:
2B: Kriegshauser, Michelle 2 ; Hostetler, Haley 1 ; Lopez, Lucy 1
RBI: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Wagner, Taylor 1 ; Olmos, Brandice 1 ; Lopez, Lucy 1
SH: Wagner, Taylor 1 ; Wyman, Katy 1 ; Lopez, Lucy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Hostetler, Haley 1 ; Schilke, Angel 1 ; Lopez, Lucy 1
SB: Peters, Alex 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball2B/SS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
2B/1B
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25