Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 11
Kent, Ohio
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
20-28, 0
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Kent State
32-14, 0
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Eastern Michigan
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Kent State
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Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eastern Knocks Off Kent State in Series Opener, 8-4
5/11/2018 7:52:00 PM | Baseball
It was EMU's first regular season win over the Golden Flashes since 2015
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team knocked off Mid-American Conference leader Kent State University, 8-4, Friday afternoon, May 11, at Schoonover Stadium. It was EMU's (20-28, 12-10 MAC) first regular season win over KSU (32-14, 16-6 MAC) since 2015.
The Eagles gave the Golden Flashes trouble they have not seen for a majority of the season, as the eight runs are the most given up by KSU in MAC play this season. In addition, EMU tagged MAC ERA leader Joey Murray for four runs, two more than the most he had given up in any of his 13 starts this season.
The offense only ended up with six hits in the game, but made the most of its opportunities. Sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) had a two-hit, three-RBI day, including his fifth home run of the season, this one a two-run bomb. Junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) also had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
On the hill, senior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) earned his fourth win of the season after going the first six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five. In relief, a pair of freshmen preserved the four-run lead, as Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) and Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) combined to go the final three innings, allowing no hits and just one walk, while facing the minimum after a double play.
Kent State grabbed the early lead in the first, scoring a run off of no hits, as a walk and HBP eventually came around on an RBI ground out. After one, KSU led 1-0.
Eastern rallied in the top of the third, tagging Kent for four runs on four hits. Freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) led off the frame with a four-pitch walk, followed by an infield single by junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) to put runners on the corners with one out. Owings drove in the first with a solid single to left, tying the game at one.
After a fly out, sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) took a pitch off his back to load the sacks up for Schenker with two away. The lefty singled through the right side to plate two more, giving EMU its first lead, 3-1. The next batter, freshman Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick), followed with a bloop single to center to plate another, giving EMU the three-run advantage.
The Golden Flashes manufactured another run in the bottom of the third, turning a leadoff double into a run on a ground out, cutting the lead to 4-2. Kent State had another prime scoring opportunity in the fourth, getting the first two runners on via a double and single, but a triple play got EMU out of the inning.
With runners on the corners and a fly out to center, Nate Jones gunned out the runner at home, and his brother, Nick, turned around fired down to second to nail the man trying for the bag, ending the inning. It was EMU's first triple play turned since recording one against Michigan, April 18, 2012.
Following a scoreless fifth, Kent State tied the game back up in the sixth inning with a pair of runs on four hits, knotting the contest up at four with three innings left to play.
EMU got the lead back in a big way in the top of the seventh, as Owings unloaded a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right field. His fifth of the season gave EMU the 6-4 lead. Granzotto fired a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, keeping the two-run lead into the eighth.
There, Eastern tacked on a couple more. Nick Jones led off with a walk, and was driven in on a double from Schenker, his third RBI of the game. Later in the inning, with a man on third, sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) executed a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring the eighth run of the day, and giving EMU its largest lead of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff walk was erased by the new reliever, House, on a 4-6-3 double play, to navigate the Eagles into the ninth with the 8-4 lead. In the ninth, House continued to mow down KSU hitters, going 1-2-3 again to preserve the series-opening win.
Eastern and Kent State get back into action tomorrow, May 11, for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
The Eagles gave the Golden Flashes trouble they have not seen for a majority of the season, as the eight runs are the most given up by KSU in MAC play this season. In addition, EMU tagged MAC ERA leader Joey Murray for four runs, two more than the most he had given up in any of his 13 starts this season.
The offense only ended up with six hits in the game, but made the most of its opportunities. Sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) had a two-hit, three-RBI day, including his fifth home run of the season, this one a two-run bomb. Junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)) also had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
On the hill, senior Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) earned his fourth win of the season after going the first six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five. In relief, a pair of freshmen preserved the four-run lead, as Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) and Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) combined to go the final three innings, allowing no hits and just one walk, while facing the minimum after a double play.
Kent State grabbed the early lead in the first, scoring a run off of no hits, as a walk and HBP eventually came around on an RBI ground out. After one, KSU led 1-0.
Eastern rallied in the top of the third, tagging Kent for four runs on four hits. Freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) led off the frame with a four-pitch walk, followed by an infield single by junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) to put runners on the corners with one out. Owings drove in the first with a solid single to left, tying the game at one.
After a fly out, sophomore Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) took a pitch off his back to load the sacks up for Schenker with two away. The lefty singled through the right side to plate two more, giving EMU its first lead, 3-1. The next batter, freshman Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick), followed with a bloop single to center to plate another, giving EMU the three-run advantage.
The Golden Flashes manufactured another run in the bottom of the third, turning a leadoff double into a run on a ground out, cutting the lead to 4-2. Kent State had another prime scoring opportunity in the fourth, getting the first two runners on via a double and single, but a triple play got EMU out of the inning.
With runners on the corners and a fly out to center, Nate Jones gunned out the runner at home, and his brother, Nick, turned around fired down to second to nail the man trying for the bag, ending the inning. It was EMU's first triple play turned since recording one against Michigan, April 18, 2012.
The brotherly connection was alive and well in this TRIPLE PLAY turned by @natejones28 in CF and @nickjones1732 at catcher
— EMU Baseball (@EMU_Baseball) May 12, 2018
It was just the 15th TP turned in D1 baseball this season and EMU's first since 2012 #EMUBats #SCTop10 @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/ShXGbGxLeM
Following a scoreless fifth, Kent State tied the game back up in the sixth inning with a pair of runs on four hits, knotting the contest up at four with three innings left to play.
EMU got the lead back in a big way in the top of the seventh, as Owings unloaded a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right field. His fifth of the season gave EMU the 6-4 lead. Granzotto fired a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, keeping the two-run lead into the eighth.
There, Eastern tacked on a couple more. Nick Jones led off with a walk, and was driven in on a double from Schenker, his third RBI of the game. Later in the inning, with a man on third, sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) executed a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring the eighth run of the day, and giving EMU its largest lead of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, a leadoff walk was erased by the new reliever, House, on a 4-6-3 double play, to navigate the Eagles into the ninth with the 8-4 lead. In the ninth, House continued to mow down KSU hitters, going 1-2-3 again to preserve the series-opening win.
Eastern and Kent State get back into action tomorrow, May 11, for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McMurtrey, Justin (4-6)
L: HAVEKOST, Austin (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Schenker, Kolton 1
HR: Owings, Zachary 1
RBI: Owings, Zachary 3 ; Schenker, Kolton 3 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Hager, Devin 1
SH: Jones, Nate 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Hager, Devin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Nate 1 ; Schuemann, Max 1 ; Owings, Zachary 2 ; Jones, Nick 2 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Timko, Jeff 1
SB: Jones, Nick 1
CS: Owings, Zachary 1
HBP: Jones, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: HAWKINS, Reilly 1 ; PARKS, Pavin 1 ; DALPORTO,Tim 1
RBI: KANAVAS, Nick 1 ; PARKS, Pavin 2 ; DALPORTO,Tim 1
SH: KANAVAS, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HAWKINS, Reilly 2 ; KANAVAS, Nick 1 ; PARKS, Pavin 1
HBP: HAWKINS, Reilly 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
3b/1b
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
rf/2b
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
LHP
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IF
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RHP
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OF
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C/IF
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RHP
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