Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-15, 0
Bowling Green
4-14, 0
Jones the Hero in Walk-Off Win over BGSU
3/24/2017 11:02:00 PM | Baseball
EMU came back from four runs down to get the MAC opener win
The EMU (5-15, 1-0 MAC) offense sprung for 12 hits in the contest, led by three-hit outing from freshman Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), including a double and RBI. The walk-off hero, Jones, finished the day with two hits and a career-high three RBI's, while fellow freshman Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) upped his team-best average to .347 with two hits, as well as two RBI's.
Junior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) earned his first win at EMU after locking down the BGSU (4-14, 0-1 MAC) bats in the final three innings, not giving up a run on three hits and a career-best six K's.
The Falcons struck first in the first inning after a wild pitch, but starting pitcher senior Sam Delaplane (San Jose, Calif.-Leigh) escaped a bases loaded jam after a 5-3 double play turned by Hager.
The Eagles were quick to respond in the second, loading the bases with a single, error, and walk. The fourth batter, Hager, showed patience at the plate and drew the RBI walk to tie it up. The tie was short lived though, as Bowling Green retook the lead on a solo homer to straightaway center in the third.
EMU had another response in the bottom of the third with clutch two-out hitting. After a one-out walk to redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter), Owings blooped a hit to short left field that dropped in, scoring Mioduszewski from first. The RBI-double tied the game for the second time going into the fourth.
Following a clean fourth, the Falcons gained the lead back once again in the fifth on an RBI single, making the score 3-2 midway through. Another scoreless frame in the sixth kept it tight into the late innings.
Bowling Green gained some momentum and padded its lead in the seventh with three runs on four hits, giving them their largest lead going into the stretch.
The bottom of the seventh proved fruitful for EMU though, all beginning with a leadoff walk to senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra). After a single, and then a strikeout, redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) stepped in as a pinch hitter and singled in a run to get things started. Following another K, there were two outs for Jones.
On a fly ball to center, the wind caused a misplay from the centerfielder and the ball dropped in to score both runners and pull EMU within one. The Eagles were not done yet though, as Hager knotted things up once again with a double to left, and the comeback was complete. Going into the final two innings, the score stood 6-6.
McMurtrey made sure the game remained tied into the ninth with clean innings, including striking out the side in the top of the ninth, to set up the walk-off heroics.
The bases were loaded with no outs in the ninth following two walks and a single, brining Jones to the dish. The rookie wasted no time, blasting a hit over the centerfielder's head on the first pitch, to complete the phenomenal comeback, and give Eastern a crucial 6-5 win.
EMU and BGSU will meet again tomorrow afternoon for game two of the three-game series. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 3 p.m.
Looks like @EMUSoftball isn't the only one walking-off today... Nick Jones' walk-off single gives @EMU_Baseball a 7-6 win over BGSU! pic.twitter.com/2C9psz8HhF
— EMU Athletics (@EMUAthletics) March 25, 2017
#RapidReaction | Hear what @EMUskipper had to say following a walk-off win over BGSU in our home opener! #EMUBats #EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/dAw4ZGccio
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) March 25, 2017
#RapidReaction | Walk-off hero @nickjones1732 talks about the Eagles' comeback win over BGSU! #EMUEagles #EMUBats pic.twitter.com/qBsiHoH9ne
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) March 25, 2017
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McMurtrey, Justin (1-0)
L: LANDI, Tony (1-2)
Batting:
2B: JENKINS, Blake 1 ; DREWES, Derek 1
HR: RIGHTER, Randy 1
RBI: BASALYGA, Greg 1 ; RIGHTER, Randy 1 ; SUNTKEN, Ty 2 ; WILSON, Jake 1
SH: DREWES, Derek 1 ; GLANZMAN, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JENKINS, Blake 2 ; DREWES, Derek 1 ; BASALYGA, Greg 1 ; RIGHTER, Randy 2
Batting:
2B: Stidham, Jeremy 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Hager, Devin 1
RBI: Owings, Zachary 1 ; Gill, Marquise 1 ; Jones, Nick 3 ; Hager, Devin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Montgomery, John 1 ; Mioduszewski, Mike 2 ; Stidham, Jeremy 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Gill, Marquise 1 ; Jones, Nick 1
HBP: Peggs, Drake 1
