Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 6
Oestrike Stadium
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
EMU Outlasts Ball State in Pitchers' Duel, 1-0
4/6/2018 5:31:00 PM | Baseball
Senior Justin McMurtrey struck out a career-best seven batters in eight innings
Photo Gallery.
Postgame Audio.
Game Winning Hit Audio.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team came out on the right end of a pitchers' duel in a 1-0 win over Ball State University to open the series Friday afternoon, April 6, at Oestrike Stadium. It was the second shutout win for the Eagles (9-17, 4-3 MAC) in conference play this season.
Senior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) got the start and twirled an absolute gem, going a career-high eight innings only yielding four hits and one walk while striking out a career-best seven batters to earn his third win of the season. It was the 10th win of his two-year EMU career. In relief in the ninth, freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) earned the first save of his collegiate career, tossing a clean frame which included a strikeout.
Offensively, EMU got its first win of the season in which it was out-hit, as the Eagles only mustered three hits to Ball State's (14-14, 3-4 MAC) four. EMU made them count, though, as the winning formula came in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double from freshman Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson).
EMU was held without a baserunner until the fourth inning on an infield single from sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline). The opportunity was short lived though as BSU turned a double play to kill the threat. Luckily, McMurtrey matched the Cardinals' hurler with six strong innings of his own, only allowing two base runners to go along with seven strikeouts to take it to the seventh.
There, McMurtrey ran into some two-out trouble, as a single and double placed runners on second and third, but the veteran was able to pitch out of it with a harmless fly out right to keep the shutout intact. EMU got a runner to second in the bottom of the seventh, but he was left stranded to keep the deadlock into the final two frames.
After McMurtrey tossed a 1-2-3 eighth, EMU got its offense going in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) led off with a single, and got to second on a muff from the centerfielder. After back-to-back strikeouts the inning looked grim, but Gora was able to poke his first career double down the right field line, scoring Schenker, to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead into the ninth.
In the ninth, House entered from the pen and quickly retired the first two batters. After a walk and stolen base, Ball State had the tying run on second, but House was able to get the final out to lock down his first EMU save and preserve the 1-0 win.
EMU returns to the field tomorrow, April 7, for game two of the series against BSU. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 2 p.m. Stay tuned to EMUEagles.com and @EMU_Baseball on Twitter for any schedule changes.
Postgame Audio.
Game Winning Hit Audio.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team came out on the right end of a pitchers' duel in a 1-0 win over Ball State University to open the series Friday afternoon, April 6, at Oestrike Stadium. It was the second shutout win for the Eagles (9-17, 4-3 MAC) in conference play this season.
Senior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) got the start and twirled an absolute gem, going a career-high eight innings only yielding four hits and one walk while striking out a career-best seven batters to earn his third win of the season. It was the 10th win of his two-year EMU career. In relief in the ninth, freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) earned the first save of his collegiate career, tossing a clean frame which included a strikeout.
Offensively, EMU got its first win of the season in which it was out-hit, as the Eagles only mustered three hits to Ball State's (14-14, 3-4 MAC) four. EMU made them count, though, as the winning formula came in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double from freshman Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson).
EMU was held without a baserunner until the fourth inning on an infield single from sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline). The opportunity was short lived though as BSU turned a double play to kill the threat. Luckily, McMurtrey matched the Cardinals' hurler with six strong innings of his own, only allowing two base runners to go along with seven strikeouts to take it to the seventh.
There, McMurtrey ran into some two-out trouble, as a single and double placed runners on second and third, but the veteran was able to pitch out of it with a harmless fly out right to keep the shutout intact. EMU got a runner to second in the bottom of the seventh, but he was left stranded to keep the deadlock into the final two frames.
After McMurtrey tossed a 1-2-3 eighth, EMU got its offense going in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) led off with a single, and got to second on a muff from the centerfielder. After back-to-back strikeouts the inning looked grim, but Gora was able to poke his first career double down the right field line, scoring Schenker, to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead into the ninth.
In the ninth, House entered from the pen and quickly retired the first two batters. After a walk and stolen base, Ball State had the tying run on second, but House was able to get the final out to lock down his first EMU save and preserve the 1-0 win.
EMU returns to the field tomorrow, April 7, for game two of the series against BSU. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 2 p.m. Stay tuned to EMUEagles.com and @EMU_Baseball on Twitter for any schedule changes.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McMurtrey, Justin (3-4)
L: BAKER, John (3-3)
S: House, Thomas (1)
Batting:
2B: RIEDEL, Jeff 1 ; SEBBY, Chase 1
Base Running:
SB: NAVARRO, Noah 1
Batting:
2B: Gora, Eli 1
RBI: Gora, Eli 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schenker, Kolton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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