Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 4
Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
3:05 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
17-26, 10-9
7
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6
Central Michigan
19-24-1, 11-8
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12
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Eastern Michigan
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0
0
0
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4
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1
7
8
1
Central Michigan
0
1
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1
0
4
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6
12
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Photo by: Brian Tietz
EMU Takes Series Opener at CMU in Extra Inning Comeback Affair
5/4/2018 8:09:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern won in the 12th after trailing by five in the eighth
Postgame Coach Roof Interview
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team used a furious late comeback and extra innings to knock off Central Michigan University, 7-6, Friday afternoon, May 4, at Theunissen Stadium. EMU (17-26, 10-9 MAC) trailed by five runs in the eighth, before tying it up in the ninth, and eventually winning it in 12 innings.
It was Eastern's fourth extra-inning affair of the season, moving to 3-1 on the year in such games. It was also EMU's third comeback win when trailing entering the eighth inning or later this season.
The EMU bullpen was clutch in the late innings, going the last five frames with no runs allowed. Freshman Dillon Schroeder (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior) went the most innings, pitching a career-high three, allowing just one hit. Earning the first win of his career was junior Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) after pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Coming on for the save was freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) with a 1-2-3 12th to earn his second of the season.
Offensively, EMU used eight hits to score its seven runs, led by a big three-hit day from sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), including a solo home run and a double, as well as two walks and two runs scored. Junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) knocked in a game-high two, while freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a clutch RBI single in the ninth to tie the game at six. It is the longest hitting streak for an EMU player since 2012.
Eastern got on the board in the top of the first with a bang, as Owings smacked a solo home run with two outs to deep left center. His third dinger of the season put EMU 1-0 in the first. CMU (19-24-1, 11-8 MAC) answered right back in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI of their own, making it all even after two.
Senior starting pitcher Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) worked around some hits in the third and fourth to keep it tied at one into the middle innings. CMU broke the tie in the fifth with another two-out RBI, putting them ahead for the first time into the sixth. After a scoreless sixth, CMU added a grand slam in the seventh, making it 6-1 into the final two frames.
The Eagle offense got into gear in the top of the eighth, getting the four runs back to get back within one. Sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) led off with a double in the gap, which was followed by a hit by pitch and walk to load the bags up with no outs. The first runner scored on a wild pitch, which was followed by another walk to keep the bags juiced for junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)).
Schenker delivered with an RBI single, putting the tally at 6-3 and keeping the bags filled with Eagles. The next batter, Rensel, continued the offense, driving in two more on a base knock, to make the score 6-5. Coming on in relief, Schroeder tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to keep it tight into the ninth.
EMU completed the comeback in the ninth inning, knotting the game at six on a RBI base hit from Nate Jones, which extended his hitting streak to 17 games. After Hager led off with a walk, he stole second, and was eventually knocked in on Jones' solid single just past the first baseman, forcing the bottom of the ninth.
There, Schroeder retired his sixth-straight Chippewa batter to send the game into the 10th. After a 1-2-3 top of the tenth from the Eagles, Schroeder navigated through his third scoreless inning in the bottom half to take it to the 11th.
EMU went 1-2-3 again in the top of the 11th, and Hester came on from the pen for the bottom half. Despite allowing the bases to become loaded, Hester worked his way out of the jam to send it to the 12th.
Hester's heroics allowed EMU to finally take the lead back in the top of the 12th, as junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) led off with a single. On a stolen base attempt, the throw down to second deflected off Schuemann, and into no man's land, and he took the opportunity to come all the way home to recapture the lead, 7-6.
In the bottom of the 12th, House entered looking for the save. He got some help from his defense, going 1-2-3 on three balls in play, locking up his second save of the year.
EMU and CMU gets back into action tomorrow afternoon, May 5, for game two of the series from Theunissen Stadium. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team used a furious late comeback and extra innings to knock off Central Michigan University, 7-6, Friday afternoon, May 4, at Theunissen Stadium. EMU (17-26, 10-9 MAC) trailed by five runs in the eighth, before tying it up in the ninth, and eventually winning it in 12 innings.
It was Eastern's fourth extra-inning affair of the season, moving to 3-1 on the year in such games. It was also EMU's third comeback win when trailing entering the eighth inning or later this season.
The EMU bullpen was clutch in the late innings, going the last five frames with no runs allowed. Freshman Dillon Schroeder (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford Senior) went the most innings, pitching a career-high three, allowing just one hit. Earning the first win of his career was junior Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) after pitching a scoreless 11th inning. Coming on for the save was freshman Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) with a 1-2-3 12th to earn his second of the season.
Offensively, EMU used eight hits to score its seven runs, led by a big three-hit day from sophomore Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), including a solo home run and a double, as well as two walks and two runs scored. Junior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) knocked in a game-high two, while freshman Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a clutch RBI single in the ninth to tie the game at six. It is the longest hitting streak for an EMU player since 2012.
Eastern got on the board in the top of the first with a bang, as Owings smacked a solo home run with two outs to deep left center. His third dinger of the season put EMU 1-0 in the first. CMU (19-24-1, 11-8 MAC) answered right back in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI of their own, making it all even after two.
Senior starting pitcher Justin McMurtrey (Redding, Calif.-Shasta (Butte C.C.)) worked around some hits in the third and fourth to keep it tied at one into the middle innings. CMU broke the tie in the fifth with another two-out RBI, putting them ahead for the first time into the sixth. After a scoreless sixth, CMU added a grand slam in the seventh, making it 6-1 into the final two frames.
The Eagle offense got into gear in the top of the eighth, getting the four runs back to get back within one. Sophomore Devin Hager (Commerce Township, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) led off with a double in the gap, which was followed by a hit by pitch and walk to load the bags up with no outs. The first runner scored on a wild pitch, which was followed by another walk to keep the bags juiced for junior Kolton Schenker (Augusta, Kan.-Augusta (Labette C.C.)).
Schenker delivered with an RBI single, putting the tally at 6-3 and keeping the bags filled with Eagles. The next batter, Rensel, continued the offense, driving in two more on a base knock, to make the score 6-5. Coming on in relief, Schroeder tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to keep it tight into the ninth.
EMU completed the comeback in the ninth inning, knotting the game at six on a RBI base hit from Nate Jones, which extended his hitting streak to 17 games. After Hager led off with a walk, he stole second, and was eventually knocked in on Jones' solid single just past the first baseman, forcing the bottom of the ninth.
There, Schroeder retired his sixth-straight Chippewa batter to send the game into the 10th. After a 1-2-3 top of the tenth from the Eagles, Schroeder navigated through his third scoreless inning in the bottom half to take it to the 11th.
EMU went 1-2-3 again in the top of the 11th, and Hester came on from the pen for the bottom half. Despite allowing the bases to become loaded, Hester worked his way out of the jam to send it to the 12th.
Hester's heroics allowed EMU to finally take the lead back in the top of the 12th, as junior Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) led off with a single. On a stolen base attempt, the throw down to second deflected off Schuemann, and into no man's land, and he took the opportunity to come all the way home to recapture the lead, 7-6.
In the bottom of the 12th, House entered looking for the save. He got some help from his defense, going 1-2-3 on three balls in play, locking up his second save of the year.
EMU and CMU gets back into action tomorrow afternoon, May 5, for game two of the series from Theunissen Stadium. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hester, Caleb (1-0)
L: BRADLEY, Colton (3-1)
S: House, Thomas (2)
Batting:
2B: Owings, Zachary 1 ; Hager, Devin 1
HR: Owings, Zachary 1
RBI: Jones, Nate 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Schenker, Kolton 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 2
SH: Easter, Shane 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Nate 1 ; Schuemann, Max 1 ; Owings, Zachary 2 ; Hager, Devin 2 ; Timko, Jeff 1
SB: Schuemann, Max 3 ; Hager, Devin 1
CS: Owings, Zachary 1
HBP: Schuemann, Max 1 ; Timko, Jeff 1
Batting:
2B: CLEVELAND, Blake 1
HR: LOCKWOOD-POWELL, Gri 1
RBI: LOCKWOOD-POWELL, Gri 5 ; ROLLIN, Chase 1
SH: CRUM, Jacob 2 ; CLEVELAND, Blake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: CRUM, Jacob 1 ; WARREN, Zavier 1 ; ROBINSON, Daniel 1 ; LOCKWOOD-POWELL, Gri 1 ; CLEVELAND, Blake 1 ; COLE, Dazon 1
SB: ROBINSON, Daniel 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
6
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballInside the Ride Episode 2: Katie Condon
Thursday, October 16
16th Annual EMU Baseball Golf Outing
Sunday, October 05
Oestrike Stadium Turf Replacement Time lapse
Friday, October 03
Oestrike Stadium Upgrades Reveal
Thursday, October 02