Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 18
Ft. Myers, Fla.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Florida Gulf Coast
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FGCU
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Photo by: Brian Tietz
Baseball Dealt Third Walk-Off Loss of the Weekend to FGCU, 8-7
2/18/2018 5:06:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern tallied nine hits and eight walks
FT. MYERS, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – For the third time in the four-game series, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team lost in heartbreaking walk-off fashion to Florida Gulf Coast University, this time in a 8-7 score, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, at Swanson Stadium.
EMU (0-4) once again had a late lead, as they were up 6-4 in the eighth inning. A three-run homer from FGCU (4-0) put them back ahead going into the ninth, but EMU rallied to send it to the bottom of the ninth. There, FGCU was clutch for the third time on the weekend, getting a walk-off single to complete the sweep.
The Green and White had another efficient offensive effort, spreading nine hits among six batters, while also drawing eight walks. Junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) led the way, as he reached base in all five at bats, notching two hits and three walks, along with an RBI. Sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) added a two-hit, three-RBI day, while junior Cameron Cruz (Chandler, Ariz.- Hamilton (Mesa C.C.)) also tallied two hits, including his first career EMU home run.
On the hill, senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) had a solid first start of the year, taking a no decision after going the first five, allowing three runs with three strikeouts.
EMU took advantage of some wild pitching from FGCU in the first inning, as they loaded the bases on three walks. Nick Jones capitalized on the situation, driving in a pair to yield Eastern the 2-0 lead early on. As they have all weekend, FGCU responded almost immediately, driving in two of its own on three hits to tie it after just one inning.
The Green and White jumped back ahead in the next frame, as a walk and sacrifice bunt placed a runner on second. With two outs, sophomore Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) doubled him in to get the lead back, 3-2. DeVenney pitched a quick second inning, with his first two strikeouts, to send it to the third.
In the third, EMU loaded the bases up once again on three straight walks, but FGCU escaped without any damage this time with an infield pop out and fly out, to keep it a one-run game. DeVenney cruised through the third, retiring his seventh straight batter, to keep the lead intact.
Eastern's lead extended in the fourth as it capitalized on some FGCU miscues. Sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) led off the frame with a single, and he came around to score on the next at-bat. Cruz laid down a sac bunt, which the FGCU third baseman misplayed. On the bunt, Hager went to take third, and a wild throw sailed away, allowing him to score.
FGCU got back to within one in the fourth inning, scoring on a bases loaded sacrifice fly. DeVenney got out of the jam though, keeping the 4-3 lead into the middle innings. In the fifth, he gave up a leadoff walk, but a slick 5-4-3 double play ended any threat, sending it to the sixth.
After EMU went to the pen to start the sixth, FGCU tied up the game at four on a bases loaded single. Freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross), who was making his college debut out of the bullpen, got the final batter looking on strikes to prevent any further damage.
Getting out of the jam proved big as EMU recaptured the lead in the top of the seventh. Junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) led off with a single, his 11th hit in four games, and worked his way around to third on a steal and failed pick off. Rensel was there to drive him home on a single down the line, putting the Green and White back up, 5-4, going into the stretch.
House was efficient in the seventh, getting three quick outs while stranding a runner on second, who reach on an error. EMU got some insurance in the eighth as Cruz blasted a solo shot to left field. His first homer in a green and white uniform put EMU ahead by two with two innings to play.
FGCU had the late-inning magic once again though, smacking a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, to take a 7-6 lead into the ninth. This time, Eastern had the comeback, as they tied it up in the ninth.
Sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) led off by reaching on an error, and Rensel singled, to reach base for the fifth time, setting up Nick Jones. He delivered with an RBI single up the middle, plating Owings and sending it to the bottom of the ninth with the 7-7 score. FGCU, for the third time in the four-game set, walked off with the win as a lead off hit by pitch came around to score on a single, dealing EMU the 8-7 defeat.
Eastern gets back into action in the Sunshine State this Tuesday, Feb. 20, when it takes on NCAA Division II member Lynn University for a midweek game. First pitch in Boca Raton, Fla. is set for 2:30 p.m.
EMU (0-4) once again had a late lead, as they were up 6-4 in the eighth inning. A three-run homer from FGCU (4-0) put them back ahead going into the ninth, but EMU rallied to send it to the bottom of the ninth. There, FGCU was clutch for the third time on the weekend, getting a walk-off single to complete the sweep.
The Green and White had another efficient offensive effort, spreading nine hits among six batters, while also drawing eight walks. Junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) led the way, as he reached base in all five at bats, notching two hits and three walks, along with an RBI. Sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) added a two-hit, three-RBI day, while junior Cameron Cruz (Chandler, Ariz.- Hamilton (Mesa C.C.)) also tallied two hits, including his first career EMU home run.
On the hill, senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) had a solid first start of the year, taking a no decision after going the first five, allowing three runs with three strikeouts.
EMU took advantage of some wild pitching from FGCU in the first inning, as they loaded the bases on three walks. Nick Jones capitalized on the situation, driving in a pair to yield Eastern the 2-0 lead early on. As they have all weekend, FGCU responded almost immediately, driving in two of its own on three hits to tie it after just one inning.
The Green and White jumped back ahead in the next frame, as a walk and sacrifice bunt placed a runner on second. With two outs, sophomore Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) doubled him in to get the lead back, 3-2. DeVenney pitched a quick second inning, with his first two strikeouts, to send it to the third.
In the third, EMU loaded the bases up once again on three straight walks, but FGCU escaped without any damage this time with an infield pop out and fly out, to keep it a one-run game. DeVenney cruised through the third, retiring his seventh straight batter, to keep the lead intact.
Eastern's lead extended in the fourth as it capitalized on some FGCU miscues. Sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) led off the frame with a single, and he came around to score on the next at-bat. Cruz laid down a sac bunt, which the FGCU third baseman misplayed. On the bunt, Hager went to take third, and a wild throw sailed away, allowing him to score.
FGCU got back to within one in the fourth inning, scoring on a bases loaded sacrifice fly. DeVenney got out of the jam though, keeping the 4-3 lead into the middle innings. In the fifth, he gave up a leadoff walk, but a slick 5-4-3 double play ended any threat, sending it to the sixth.
After EMU went to the pen to start the sixth, FGCU tied up the game at four on a bases loaded single. Freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross), who was making his college debut out of the bullpen, got the final batter looking on strikes to prevent any further damage.
Getting out of the jam proved big as EMU recaptured the lead in the top of the seventh. Junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) led off with a single, his 11th hit in four games, and worked his way around to third on a steal and failed pick off. Rensel was there to drive him home on a single down the line, putting the Green and White back up, 5-4, going into the stretch.
House was efficient in the seventh, getting three quick outs while stranding a runner on second, who reach on an error. EMU got some insurance in the eighth as Cruz blasted a solo shot to left field. His first homer in a green and white uniform put EMU ahead by two with two innings to play.
FGCU had the late-inning magic once again though, smacking a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, to take a 7-6 lead into the ninth. This time, Eastern had the comeback, as they tied it up in the ninth.
Sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) led off by reaching on an error, and Rensel singled, to reach base for the fifth time, setting up Nick Jones. He delivered with an RBI single up the middle, plating Owings and sending it to the bottom of the ninth with the 7-7 score. FGCU, for the third time in the four-game set, walked off with the win as a lead off hit by pitch came around to score on a single, dealing EMU the 8-7 defeat.
Eastern gets back into action in the Sunshine State this Tuesday, Feb. 20, when it takes on NCAA Division II member Lynn University for a midweek game. First pitch in Boca Raton, Fla. is set for 2:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LUMBERT, Evan (1-0)
L: Schroeder, Dillon (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Peggs, Drake 1
HR: Cruz, Cameron 1
RBI: Peggs, Drake 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Jones, Nick 3 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
SH: Hager, Devin 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Peggs, Drake 1 ; Schuemann, Max 1 ; Owings, Zachary 2 ; Jones, Nate 1 ; Hager, Devin 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
SB: Peggs, Drake 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
PO: Cruz, Cameron 1
Batting:
2B: COFFERS, Marc 1
HR: GILMORE, Kohl 1
RBI: COFFERS, Marc 1 ; MOREY, Gage 1 ; GILMORE, Kohl 3 ; BRAIT, Alex 1 ; GARCIA, Richie 1 ; LEVINE, Spencer 1
SF: COFFERS, Marc 1
Base Running:
RUNS: COFFERS, Marc 1 ; MOREY, Gage 1 ; GILMORE, Kohl 2 ; YEAGER, Tyler 1 ; LEVINE, Spencer 1 ; SMITH, Jake 2
SB: LOVELL, Eli 1
HBP: LOVELL, Eli 1 ; GARCIA, Richie 1 ; LEVINE, Spencer 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
OF
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OF/RHP
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IF
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