Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 14
Athens, Ohio
9 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4
at
5
Ohio
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Eagles Split Doubleheader, Win Series at Ohio
4/14/2018 4:14:00 PM | Baseball
EMU won its third-straight MAC series
ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped a close game, before finishing off another tight contest to clinch a series win over the Ohio Bobcats in doubleheader action Saturday afternoon, April 14, at Bob Wren Stadium.
EMU (13-20, 7-5 MAC) fell in the opener, 5-4, but topped the Bobcats (17-17, 5-7 MAC), 4-3, in a thrilling game two to take its third-straight conference series.
Game One: Ohio 5, Eastern Michigan 4
EMU almost had the late-inning magic again, but this time fell just short in game one. EMU got the tying run on second in the top of the ninth, but Ohio escaped with the one-run decision.
Senior Brad Allen (Manchester, Mich.-Manchester (Jackson College)) was saddled with another tough loss after going the final four innings, yielding just one run on four hits while striking out three. Junior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) took a no decision after going the first four, striking out six batters, his third-straight six-plus strikeout effort.
Offensively, EMU spread six hits among six batters, including four doubles. Three of the Eagles' runs scored on RBI doubles off the bats of sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), and freshmen Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson).
EMU jumped on the Bobcats early, as they produced a two-out run. After two batters reached on an error and walk, Gora drove in the first with a double off the wall in left field. The second runner was gunned down at the plate, ending the rally, but giving EMU the lead after one.
Ohio responded in the second inning, plating a pair of runs on two hits and a balk, putting the tally at 2-1 after two frames. EMU knotted the contest in the top of the third on a two-out double from Owings. His eight-game hitting streak was extended on the two-bagger, and tied the game at two apiece.
The tie was short lived though, as Ohio smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to jump back ahead, 4-2, into the fourth inning. In the fourth, Shaver had a bases loaded and one out situation, but escaped it with a groundout and his sixth strikeout, to keep it a two-run game into the fifth.
Eastern got one back in the fifth, manufacturing a run on a leadoff double from freshman Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock). The rookie started the frame with his second-straight game with an extra base hit, and later came around to score after a groundout and wild pitch, cutting the deficit to one, 4-3.
After coming on to start the fifth inning, Allen tossed scoreless fifth and sixth innings to keep it a one run game. EMU capitalized off the solid work of Allen in the top of the seventh, tying the contest on a Nate Jones RBI double, EMU's fourth double of the day. Into the stretch, the contest was all knotted up at four.
Allen tossed his third-straight scoreless inning in the seventh, but yielded the lead in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff double came in on a sacrifice fly, setting up the decisive ninth frame. Despite getting a pair of runners on base, Ohio pitched around the traffic and held on.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 4, Ohio 3
This time Ohio tried to play spoiler, as EMU almost coughed up the four-run lead it had entering the eighth inning, but the Eagles held on for the one-run triumph.
Eastern got it done on both sides of the diamond, getting clutch pitching efforts as well as big time offense. Leading the charge on the mound was senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) who had another dazzling start, pitching seven innings of shutout ball, only allowing four hits while striking out a career-high seven to earn his third win. In relief, freshman Dillon Schroeder (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior) tossed the final 2.1 innings, including striking out the side in the ninth to lock up his first career EMU save.
Offensively, the Green and White notched double-digit hits for the 18th time this season finishing with 10 in the contest. Owings was the big swinger this time around, as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games for the second time this season after going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk, as well as his second home run of the season. Sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) led the hit output, notching three hits, tying his career-high.
EMU got the scoring started first in game two as well, getting one to score in the top of the second. After back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, runners were on the corners with no out for junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallamadge). The designated hitter grounded into a double play, but junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) was able to score from third for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the second, DeVenney found himself in a bit of a tight spot, loading the bases up on a single and two hit by pitches, but he was able to escape the jam on a ground out, maintain the lead into the third. EMU tacked on another in the top of the third on a two-out single from Schenker, his second hit of the game, to go up 2-0 in the middle of the third.
DeVenney settled in through the third and fourth, retiring seven in a row to keep the two-run lead into the fifth. There, the Eagles doubled the lead on a two-run home run from Owings, a no doubter to right field. His second homer on the season opened up a 4-0 lead at the halfway point.
The senior righty, DeVenney, continued to mow down opposing Bobcats, stranding a double in the fifth, and then going 1-2-3 once again in the sixth, to keep the shutout in tact into the final three innings. DeVenney escaped yet another tough situation in the bottom of the seventh, stranding a pair or runners, and taking the shutout into the eighth.
Ohio finally broke the shutout off the bullpen in the eighth, getting three unearned runs to cross after an error early in the inning. Going into the ninth, Eastern clung to the one run lead. In the ninth, Schroeder, after entering to finish the last out in the eighth, came back on for the save. Despite loading up the bases, Schroeder stayed composed, eventually striking out the side to lock up his first career save, and the series win.
Eastern now has the midweek off to focus on finals, before springing back into action next weekend, April 20-22, for a three-game set at the University of Toledo. The series against the Rockets begins with a 3:05 first pitch, Friday, April 20.
EMU (13-20, 7-5 MAC) fell in the opener, 5-4, but topped the Bobcats (17-17, 5-7 MAC), 4-3, in a thrilling game two to take its third-straight conference series.
Game One: Ohio 5, Eastern Michigan 4
EMU almost had the late-inning magic again, but this time fell just short in game one. EMU got the tying run on second in the top of the ninth, but Ohio escaped with the one-run decision.
Senior Brad Allen (Manchester, Mich.-Manchester (Jackson College)) was saddled with another tough loss after going the final four innings, yielding just one run on four hits while striking out three. Junior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) took a no decision after going the first four, striking out six batters, his third-straight six-plus strikeout effort.
Offensively, EMU spread six hits among six batters, including four doubles. Three of the Eagles' runs scored on RBI doubles off the bats of sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), and freshmen Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson).
EMU jumped on the Bobcats early, as they produced a two-out run. After two batters reached on an error and walk, Gora drove in the first with a double off the wall in left field. The second runner was gunned down at the plate, ending the rally, but giving EMU the lead after one.
Ohio responded in the second inning, plating a pair of runs on two hits and a balk, putting the tally at 2-1 after two frames. EMU knotted the contest in the top of the third on a two-out double from Owings. His eight-game hitting streak was extended on the two-bagger, and tied the game at two apiece.
The tie was short lived though, as Ohio smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to jump back ahead, 4-2, into the fourth inning. In the fourth, Shaver had a bases loaded and one out situation, but escaped it with a groundout and his sixth strikeout, to keep it a two-run game into the fifth.
Eastern got one back in the fifth, manufacturing a run on a leadoff double from freshman Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock). The rookie started the frame with his second-straight game with an extra base hit, and later came around to score after a groundout and wild pitch, cutting the deficit to one, 4-3.
After coming on to start the fifth inning, Allen tossed scoreless fifth and sixth innings to keep it a one run game. EMU capitalized off the solid work of Allen in the top of the seventh, tying the contest on a Nate Jones RBI double, EMU's fourth double of the day. Into the stretch, the contest was all knotted up at four.
Allen tossed his third-straight scoreless inning in the seventh, but yielded the lead in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff double came in on a sacrifice fly, setting up the decisive ninth frame. Despite getting a pair of runners on base, Ohio pitched around the traffic and held on.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 4, Ohio 3
This time Ohio tried to play spoiler, as EMU almost coughed up the four-run lead it had entering the eighth inning, but the Eagles held on for the one-run triumph.
Eastern got it done on both sides of the diamond, getting clutch pitching efforts as well as big time offense. Leading the charge on the mound was senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) who had another dazzling start, pitching seven innings of shutout ball, only allowing four hits while striking out a career-high seven to earn his third win. In relief, freshman Dillon Schroeder (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior) tossed the final 2.1 innings, including striking out the side in the ninth to lock up his first career EMU save.
Offensively, the Green and White notched double-digit hits for the 18th time this season finishing with 10 in the contest. Owings was the big swinger this time around, as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games for the second time this season after going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk, as well as his second home run of the season. Sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) led the hit output, notching three hits, tying his career-high.
EMU got the scoring started first in game two as well, getting one to score in the top of the second. After back-to-back singles to lead off the frame, runners were on the corners with no out for junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallamadge). The designated hitter grounded into a double play, but junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) was able to score from third for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the second, DeVenney found himself in a bit of a tight spot, loading the bases up on a single and two hit by pitches, but he was able to escape the jam on a ground out, maintain the lead into the third. EMU tacked on another in the top of the third on a two-out single from Schenker, his second hit of the game, to go up 2-0 in the middle of the third.
DeVenney settled in through the third and fourth, retiring seven in a row to keep the two-run lead into the fifth. There, the Eagles doubled the lead on a two-run home run from Owings, a no doubter to right field. His second homer on the season opened up a 4-0 lead at the halfway point.
??: @owingsz remains on ?????? with this two-run bomb, his second dinger of the season! 4-0 EMU leads, top 5#EMUBats #LeaveNoDoubt pic.twitter.com/iO92N8pfbc
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) April 14, 2018
The senior righty, DeVenney, continued to mow down opposing Bobcats, stranding a double in the fifth, and then going 1-2-3 once again in the sixth, to keep the shutout in tact into the final three innings. DeVenney escaped yet another tough situation in the bottom of the seventh, stranding a pair or runners, and taking the shutout into the eighth.
Ohio finally broke the shutout off the bullpen in the eighth, getting three unearned runs to cross after an error early in the inning. Going into the ninth, Eastern clung to the one run lead. In the ninth, Schroeder, after entering to finish the last out in the eighth, came back on for the save. Despite loading up the bases, Schroeder stayed composed, eventually striking out the side to lock up his first career save, and the series win.
??: @SchroederDillon with the stone cold K to lock up the exhilarating 4-3 win over Ohio, and earn his first career save!!
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) April 14, 2018
#EMUBats #LeaveNoDoubt pic.twitter.com/oZmljazvCL
Eastern now has the midweek off to focus on finals, before springing back into action next weekend, April 20-22, for a three-game set at the University of Toledo. The series against the Rockets begins with a 3:05 first pitch, Friday, April 20.
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