Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 12
Muncie, Ind.
3 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-26-1, 2-8
2
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3
Ball State
22-11, 6-2
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Eastern Michigan
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10
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Ball State
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Late Game Heroics Not Enough as Baseball Falls to Ball State
4/12/2019 6:11:00 PM | Baseball
EMU pitchers combine to allow just three runs on six hits
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a stout defensive effort, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped the opening game of its three-game conference series against Ball State University, 3-2, April 12, at the Ball Diamond. While it out-hit the Cardinals, Eastern (7-26-1) was unable to complete a ninth inning comeback that saw the tying run get to third base with only one out.
Offensively, the Eagles were tasked with facing one of the Mid-American Conference's top pitchers in the Cardinal's Drey Jameson. After retiring six consecutive Eagles to begin the game, junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) broke through against Jameson to record Eastern's first hit, a single through the left side. In the ensuing at-bat, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) poked a single to right field, giving EMU its first scoring opportunity, one which it was unable to convert.
Down 2-0, Eastern's offensive momentum continued in the fourth inning when Jared Kauffman (Springboro Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) knocked a one-out double to left-center field, giving Eastern its second scoring chance in as many innings. With two down, senior captain John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) popped an RBI single to center field to give EMU its first run of the game and cut Ball State's lead in half, 2-1.
Eastern was unable to keep the bats after the fourth inning, as it failed to score in its next four frames.
Down 3-1 in its final at-bat, EMU put together a ninth inning rally to get back in the game. Rensel Jr. began the frame with a double to left-center field, his second knock of the game. In the next at-bat, freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) delivered an RBI single, scoring Rensel Jr. and brining the Eagles back within one, 3-2, with no outs. Following a single off the bat of freshman Stephen Karis (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community), the Eagles dropped a successful sacrifice bunt to put the tying run on third, and the go-ahead run on second with just one out.
Despite its best effort, Eastern was unable to complete the comeback, ending the game with a strikeout and fly-out, respectively. In all, the Eagle offense tallied 10 hits, four more than Ball State, but eventually fell, 3-2.
On the heels of his first career complete game against Bowling Green State University, April 5, sophomore Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) provided another impressive start for Eastern in its series opener against the Cardinals.
After giving up two runs in the first inning, Granzotto held Ball State scoreless through the next five frames, allowing just three hits in that span. It total, the sophomore southpaw tossed 99 pitches over six innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, striking out four along the way.
Elsewhere, redshirt junior Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) contributed on the hill for the Green and White, as he tossed the final two innings of the game. Hester pitched well, allowing just one hit, a solo home run, in his effort.
Although the Eastern pitching staff combined to allow just three runs on six hits, its offense was unable to capitalize on key scoring opportunities in the 3-2 loss.
Eastern is back on the diamond tomorrow, April 13, where it will play a doubleheader against Ball State to close out its series with the Cardinals. Game one is slated to begin at 12 p.m., with game two set to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Offensively, the Eagles were tasked with facing one of the Mid-American Conference's top pitchers in the Cardinal's Drey Jameson. After retiring six consecutive Eagles to begin the game, junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) broke through against Jameson to record Eastern's first hit, a single through the left side. In the ensuing at-bat, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) poked a single to right field, giving EMU its first scoring opportunity, one which it was unable to convert.
Down 2-0, Eastern's offensive momentum continued in the fourth inning when Jared Kauffman (Springboro Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) knocked a one-out double to left-center field, giving Eastern its second scoring chance in as many innings. With two down, senior captain John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) popped an RBI single to center field to give EMU its first run of the game and cut Ball State's lead in half, 2-1.
Eastern was unable to keep the bats after the fourth inning, as it failed to score in its next four frames.
Down 3-1 in its final at-bat, EMU put together a ninth inning rally to get back in the game. Rensel Jr. began the frame with a double to left-center field, his second knock of the game. In the next at-bat, freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) delivered an RBI single, scoring Rensel Jr. and brining the Eagles back within one, 3-2, with no outs. Following a single off the bat of freshman Stephen Karis (Zionsville, Ind.-Zionsville Community), the Eagles dropped a successful sacrifice bunt to put the tying run on third, and the go-ahead run on second with just one out.
Despite its best effort, Eastern was unable to complete the comeback, ending the game with a strikeout and fly-out, respectively. In all, the Eagle offense tallied 10 hits, four more than Ball State, but eventually fell, 3-2.
On the heels of his first career complete game against Bowling Green State University, April 5, sophomore Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) provided another impressive start for Eastern in its series opener against the Cardinals.
After giving up two runs in the first inning, Granzotto held Ball State scoreless through the next five frames, allowing just three hits in that span. It total, the sophomore southpaw tossed 99 pitches over six innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs, striking out four along the way.
Elsewhere, redshirt junior Caleb Hester (Coloma, Mich.-Coloma) contributed on the hill for the Green and White, as he tossed the final two innings of the game. Hester pitched well, allowing just one hit, a solo home run, in his effort.
Although the Eastern pitching staff combined to allow just three runs on six hits, its offense was unable to capitalize on key scoring opportunities in the 3-2 loss.
Eastern is back on the diamond tomorrow, April 13, where it will play a doubleheader against Ball State to close out its series with the Cardinals. Game one is slated to begin at 12 p.m., with game two set to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: JAMESON, Drey (2-3)
L: Granzotto, Scott (3-5)
S: NICOLAS, Kyle (6)
Batting:
2B: Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 1
RBI: Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1
SH: Peggs, Drake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 1
CS: Peggs, Drake 1
HBP: Cruz, Cameron 1
PO: Peggs, Drake 1
Batting:
2B: RICOTTA, John 1 ; CONANT, Justin 1 ; POWELL, Noah 1
HR: RICOTTA, John 1
RBI: RICOTTA, John 3
Base Running:
RUNS: SEBBY, Chase 1 ; MESSINA, Ross 1 ; RICOTTA, John 1
CS: SIMPSON, Aaron 1 ; PELTIER, Ryan 1
HBP: BLANKENBERGER, Tim 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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