Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 7
Oestrike Stadium
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-17, 0
6
vs
5
Ball State
14-15, 0
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
2
0
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0
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1
5
10
1
Eastern Michigan
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
2
6
11
1
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Kauffman Walk-Off Single Lifts EMU to 6-5 Win over Ball State
4/7/2018 6:28:00 PM | Baseball
EMU clinched its second-straight MAC series win
PHOTO GALLERY
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team won its second-consecutive Mid-American Conference series in walk-off fashion with a 6-5 win over Ball State University Saturday afternoon, April 7, at Oestrike Stadium. In a back and forth affair, a freshman Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) RBI single was the game winner for EMU (10-17, 5-3 MAC) in its third-straight victory.
The walk-off winner was EMU's first since May 19 of last season when Jordan Peterson was the hero in a 4-3 win over Toledo. The Eagles had three walk-offs last season at Oestrike Stadium.
EMU's offense rebounded after yesterday's three-hit output to notch 11 today. It was the 15th double-digit hitting performance this season for the top offense in the conference. The Eagles also drew a season-high 11 walks.
Leading the way as he has all season was junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), as he went 3-for-3 including a walk, hit by pitch, as well as two RBIs and a double. It was his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season, and his second three-hit performance. Freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) also reached in all five plate appearances as he finished 2-for-2 with three walks, while sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) finished with two hits as well as a run scored.
On the mound, junior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) took a no decision in a solid start, going the first seven innings only allowing two earned runs while striking out a career-best seven batters. Fellow junior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)) earned his team-leading fifth win of the season after getting the final out in the ninth inning.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first, using two hits and a walk to produce a run. Owings led off with an infield single, followed by a walk to bring up junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge). The designated hitter singled through the right side, scoring Owings, and making it 1-0 early.
After three quick innings from Shaver to start the contest, Ball State finally got the bats going in the fourth as they struck for a pair of runs on four hits to take their first lead of the series, 2-1.
EMU answered back quickly in the bottom half of the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Schuemann. After freshman Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) led off with a double, two outs were recorded before Schuemann singled to right to knot the game back up into the fifth.
After Shaver rebounded with a quick fifth, EMU retook the lead in the bottom portion of the inning. A walk and single led things off to put runners on the corners. After a failed sac bunt attempt cut down the runner at home, Nate Jones followed with a single to right, which was misplayed, allowing a runner to come home and give EMU the 3-2 lead.
Shaver continued to mow down Cardinal hitters in the sixth and seventh, only allowing one base runner while upping his strikeout total to seven, to keep the one-run game into the eighth. There, a leadoff double chased Shaver from the game. Later in the frame, a couple EMU miscues allowed a pair of runners to score, making it 4-3 BSU into the bottom of the eighth.
Eastern had the response in the bottom of the eighth as Gora led off with a walk, followed by a sac bunt to bring up Schuemann. The shortstop drove in his second runner of the day on his third hit, an RBI double tying the contest once again into the ninth.
The ninth was an eventful one as Ball State grabbed yet another lead on an RBI single. They went on to load up the bases with two outs, but Sparks got the fly out to preserve the one-run game. This proved to be clutch, as EMU rallied for the final time in the bottom of the ninth.
Redshirt freshman Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) and junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) led off the ninth with consecutive walks, and senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance them. After an intentional walk, Gora took a pitch off his knee to score the tying run, and brought Kauffman up to the plate. On a 2-1 count, Kauffman lined a pitch to center field, scoring Schenker and giving EMU the thrilling 6-5 win.
Eastern looks for the sweep tomorrow afternoon, April 8, when it concludes the series with Ball State. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team won its second-consecutive Mid-American Conference series in walk-off fashion with a 6-5 win over Ball State University Saturday afternoon, April 7, at Oestrike Stadium. In a back and forth affair, a freshman Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) RBI single was the game winner for EMU (10-17, 5-3 MAC) in its third-straight victory.
The walk-off winner was EMU's first since May 19 of last season when Jordan Peterson was the hero in a 4-3 win over Toledo. The Eagles had three walk-offs last season at Oestrike Stadium.
?? @KauffmanJared is Mr. Clutch with this walk off single to knock off Ball State, 6-5! #EMUBats #LeaveNoDoubt pic.twitter.com/tFcDiq4q8W
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) April 7, 2018
EMU's offense rebounded after yesterday's three-hit output to notch 11 today. It was the 15th double-digit hitting performance this season for the top offense in the conference. The Eagles also drew a season-high 11 walks.
Leading the way as he has all season was junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), as he went 3-for-3 including a walk, hit by pitch, as well as two RBIs and a double. It was his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season, and his second three-hit performance. Freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) also reached in all five plate appearances as he finished 2-for-2 with three walks, while sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) finished with two hits as well as a run scored.
On the mound, junior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) took a no decision in a solid start, going the first seven innings only allowing two earned runs while striking out a career-best seven batters. Fellow junior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)) earned his team-leading fifth win of the season after getting the final out in the ninth inning.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first, using two hits and a walk to produce a run. Owings led off with an infield single, followed by a walk to bring up junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge). The designated hitter singled through the right side, scoring Owings, and making it 1-0 early.
After three quick innings from Shaver to start the contest, Ball State finally got the bats going in the fourth as they struck for a pair of runs on four hits to take their first lead of the series, 2-1.
EMU answered back quickly in the bottom half of the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Schuemann. After freshman Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) led off with a double, two outs were recorded before Schuemann singled to right to knot the game back up into the fifth.
After Shaver rebounded with a quick fifth, EMU retook the lead in the bottom portion of the inning. A walk and single led things off to put runners on the corners. After a failed sac bunt attempt cut down the runner at home, Nate Jones followed with a single to right, which was misplayed, allowing a runner to come home and give EMU the 3-2 lead.
Shaver continued to mow down Cardinal hitters in the sixth and seventh, only allowing one base runner while upping his strikeout total to seven, to keep the one-run game into the eighth. There, a leadoff double chased Shaver from the game. Later in the frame, a couple EMU miscues allowed a pair of runners to score, making it 4-3 BSU into the bottom of the eighth.
Eastern had the response in the bottom of the eighth as Gora led off with a walk, followed by a sac bunt to bring up Schuemann. The shortstop drove in his second runner of the day on his third hit, an RBI double tying the contest once again into the ninth.
The ninth was an eventful one as Ball State grabbed yet another lead on an RBI single. They went on to load up the bases with two outs, but Sparks got the fly out to preserve the one-run game. This proved to be clutch, as EMU rallied for the final time in the bottom of the ninth.
Redshirt freshman Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) and junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) led off the ninth with consecutive walks, and senior Luke DeVenney (Des Moines, Iowa-Dowling Catholic) executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance them. After an intentional walk, Gora took a pitch off his knee to score the tying run, and brought Kauffman up to the plate. On a 2-1 count, Kauffman lined a pitch to center field, scoring Schenker and giving EMU the thrilling 6-5 win.
Eastern looks for the sweep tomorrow afternoon, April 8, when it concludes the series with Ball State. First pitch from Oestrike Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
??: Hear from the walk off hero himself @KauffmanJared as he joins the exclusive shaving cream pie club! #EMUBats #LeaveNoDoubt pic.twitter.com/zUdgjoNqa2
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) April 7, 2018
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sparks, Mitchell (5-1)
L: GAZOUSKI, Nolan (1-3)
Batting:
2B: SEBBY, Chase 1
RBI: RIEDEL, Jeff 1 ; BROCKHOUSE, Colin 1 ; BAKER, William 2 ; KIRKPATRICK, Justin 1
SF: RIEDEL, Jeff 1 ; BROCKHOUSE, Colin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SEBBY, Chase 1 ; RIEDEL, Jeff 2 ; BROCKHOUSE, Colin 1 ; BAKER, William 1
SB: BAKER, William 1 ; KIRKPATRICK, Justin 1
HBP: SEBBY, Chase 1
Batting:
2B: Schuemann, Max 1 ; Gora, Eli 1
RBI: Schuemann, Max 2 ; Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Gora, Eli 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
SH: DeVenney, Luke 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Owings, Zachary 1 ; Timko, Jeff 1 ; Schenker, Kolton 2 ; Gora, Eli 2
CS: Owings, Zachary 1 ; Schenker, Kolton 1 ; Jones, Nate 2
HBP: Schuemann, Max 1 ; Gora, Eli 2
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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