Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 5
Louisville, Ky.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
2-11
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at
8
Louisville
11-0
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4
5
6
7
8
9
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E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
0
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2
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7
9
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Louisville
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1
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X
8
15
3
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Comeback Falls Short in One-Run Defeat to No. 6 Cardinals
3/5/2017 4:36:00 PM | Baseball
The Eagles had their second straight one-run loss to nationally ranked Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team had the game tied in the late innings, but once again came up just short in an 8-7 defeat to the No. 6 University of Louisville, Sunday afternoon, March 5, at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Eastern (2-11) came back from a four-run deficit in the sixth to tie it in the seventh, but the Cards (11-0) locked it down in the final two innings to secure the series sweep.
EMU had its best offensive output of the series, notching nine hits total. Seniors Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) and Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) led the offense overall. Peterson had a two-hit day, including his first career triple, along with an RBI and run scored. Stidham, meanwhile, had a two-RBI day, as well as also drawing two walks. Freshman Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) also notched his first career multi-hit game with a pair of singles and a run scored.
The Cardinals drew first blood in the first inning, capitalizing on a leadoff walk. After a stolen base and groundout, the runner on third would be driven in on a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0. They doubled that lead in the second on a solo home run, putting it at 2-0 after two innings.
UL went for two more in the third on their second solo home run, as well as a two out triple and single, to double the lead once again to 4-0. EMU had the answer in the top of the fourth when the Cardinals pitcher got a little wild, issuing five straight walks to cross a pair of runs. The RBI's came from Stidham and freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) on the base on balls. After four, the score stood at 4-2.
Louisville continued its power streak, getting its third solo home run in the fifth as part of another two-run inning to put the deficit back at four, 6-2, into the sixth.
In the sixth frame, EMU battled back with some two-out clutch hitting from junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern). With runners on first and second, Williams entered as a pinch hitter after a pitching change. The junior cranked a lined shot off the top of the wall in right center, scoring both runs and getting EMU within two, 6-4. Louisville got one back in the sixth, maintaining their lead, 7-4, with three to play.
The Eagles were not done though, as they stormed back in the seventh frame. Things got started with a one-out double from redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter), followed by an RBI triple from Peterson to put it back within two. An RBI groundout from Stidham put the Eagles within one with two outs.
Peggs then laid down a short bunt that was fielded by the UL catcher. His throw was way over the head of the first baseman, and Peggs raced into third. The next batter, freshman Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), had the clutch two-out single to tie the game going into the stretch at seven apiece.
The Cardinals had the last laugh though, regaining their lead in the bottom half of the seventh on a sacrifice fly following a triple, making it a one-run contest with two to play. The Eagles would wind up getting runners on second and third with two outs in the ninth, but the Cards got the final batter out to seal the heartbreaking defeat.
Eastern will get another mid week off before flying west for a three-game weekend series with Fresno State. The series will begin Friday, March 10 with a 9 p.m. first pitch.
Eastern (2-11) came back from a four-run deficit in the sixth to tie it in the seventh, but the Cards (11-0) locked it down in the final two innings to secure the series sweep.
EMU had its best offensive output of the series, notching nine hits total. Seniors Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) and Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) led the offense overall. Peterson had a two-hit day, including his first career triple, along with an RBI and run scored. Stidham, meanwhile, had a two-RBI day, as well as also drawing two walks. Freshman Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) also notched his first career multi-hit game with a pair of singles and a run scored.
The Cardinals drew first blood in the first inning, capitalizing on a leadoff walk. After a stolen base and groundout, the runner on third would be driven in on a sacrifice fly, making it 1-0. They doubled that lead in the second on a solo home run, putting it at 2-0 after two innings.
UL went for two more in the third on their second solo home run, as well as a two out triple and single, to double the lead once again to 4-0. EMU had the answer in the top of the fourth when the Cardinals pitcher got a little wild, issuing five straight walks to cross a pair of runs. The RBI's came from Stidham and freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) on the base on balls. After four, the score stood at 4-2.
Louisville continued its power streak, getting its third solo home run in the fifth as part of another two-run inning to put the deficit back at four, 6-2, into the sixth.
In the sixth frame, EMU battled back with some two-out clutch hitting from junior Brennan Williams (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern). With runners on first and second, Williams entered as a pinch hitter after a pitching change. The junior cranked a lined shot off the top of the wall in right center, scoring both runs and getting EMU within two, 6-4. Louisville got one back in the sixth, maintaining their lead, 7-4, with three to play.
The Eagles were not done though, as they stormed back in the seventh frame. Things got started with a one-out double from redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter), followed by an RBI triple from Peterson to put it back within two. An RBI groundout from Stidham put the Eagles within one with two outs.
Peggs then laid down a short bunt that was fielded by the UL catcher. His throw was way over the head of the first baseman, and Peggs raced into third. The next batter, freshman Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), had the clutch two-out single to tie the game going into the stretch at seven apiece.
The Cardinals had the last laugh though, regaining their lead in the bottom half of the seventh on a sacrifice fly following a triple, making it a one-run contest with two to play. The Eagles would wind up getting runners on second and third with two outs in the ninth, but the Cards got the final batter out to seal the heartbreaking defeat.
Eastern will get another mid week off before flying west for a three-game weekend series with Fresno State. The series will begin Friday, March 10 with a 9 p.m. first pitch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Elliott (1-0)
L: Feldman, Davis (0-3)
S: Sparger (1)
Batting:
2B: Lubin, Drake 1 ; Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Williams, Brennan 1
3B: Peterson, Jordan 1
RBI: Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Stidham, Jeremy 2 ; Peggs, Drake 1 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Williams, Brennan 2
SH: Peggs, Drake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Montgomery, John 1 ; Mioduszewski, Mike 2 ; Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Stidham, Jeremy 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1
Batting:
2B: Fitch 1 ; Ellis 1
3B: McKay 1 ; Hairston 1
HR: Mann 1 ; McKay 1 ; Ellis 1
RBI: Fitch 1 ; Mann 2 ; McKay 1 ; Ellis 2 ; Hairston 1 ; Stowers 1
SF: Mann 1 ; Hairston 1 ; Stowers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor 2 ; Mann 1 ; McKay 2 ; Ellis 2 ; Hairston 1
SB: Taylor 1
HBP: Stowers 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/IF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
IF/OF
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