Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 13
Muncie, Ind.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-27-1, 2-9
5
at
11
Ball State
23-11, 7-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
5
10
1
Ball State
0
1
3
0
2
1
3
1
X
11
14
0
Baseball Splits Saturday Doubleheader With Ball State
4/13/2019 7:40:00 PM | Baseball
Meis earns second consecutive win; Eagles knock 10 hits in both Saturday contests
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – After dropping the first two games of its three-game weekend series, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team picked up its third Mid-American Conference victory of the season, winning the second game of a Saturday doubleheader against Ball State University, 7-5, April 13, at BSU's Varsity Baseball Complex.
The opening game of the double-dip saw Eastern (8-27-1) come from behind on two different occasions to take a lead before being out-scored 7-0 over the final four innings in its eventual 11-5 setback. Game two saw EMU burst out to a 4-2 advantage in the third inning and, behind good starting pitching a solid bullpen effort, the Eagles outlasted the Cardinals to win the final game of the series, 7-5.
Game One: Eastern Michigan 5, Ball State 11
Unable to spark in its first two innings, the Eastern Michigan offense came to life in the third inning, down 1-0. With one on and one out, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) poked an RBI triple to left-center to give Eastern its first run of the game to tie the game, 1-1. With Timko on third, sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) blasted his second home run of the season to give EMU its first lead, 3-2.
After Ball State regained the lead, 4-3, the Eagles fought back to score two in the fifth. Junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.- Knightstown Community) led off the inning with a single to center field before junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) delivered a one out double, his ninth of the season, putting runners at the corners for Jones. Coming up big for the second time in the contest, Jones popped a two-run single to put Eastern ahead by one, 5-4.
Despite six Eagles combining to rack up 10 hits, including a 2-for-4, four-RBI game from Jones, Eastern was unable to score in its final four frames, as Ball State scored seven unanswered runs to claim game one, 11-5.
A pair of Eagles took to the mound for the Green and White in the first contest, as sophomore starter Holden Cook (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Casady (Murray State) went the first five innings, tossing 88 pitches and striking out three Cardinal batters along the way. On the mound in relief, fellow sophomore Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.- Stevenson) tossed three innings for EMU, fanning three in his 64-pitch effort.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 7, Ball State 5
As in game one, the Eastern Michigan bats were quiet through the first two innings in its series finale against Ball State, failing to score in either frame. The third inning, however, saw Eastern take a lead that it would not relinquish, as it erupted for four runs on three hits to go ahead, 4-2.
After the first two Eagle batters went down via strikeouts, Nate Jones reached base with a single up the middle. Following a walk in the ensuing at-bat, sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) singled to load the bases for EMU. Taking advantage of the two-out opportunity, senior captain John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) ripped a two-run double to put Eastern on top, 2-0. An error by the Ball State defense allowed Eastern to add two more runs in the frame, which extended the lead to 4-0.
Up 4-3 after three, Eastern added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to extend its lead. With two down in the fourth innings, Owings hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season. In the fifth, junior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) notched an RBI single to put Eastern ahead 6-3 after five innings.
With a two run advantage after seven, 6-4, the Eagles added an insurance run in the eighth to extend the lead to three. With one on and no outs, Timko notched a single to put runners on first and third for Eastern. In the next at-bat Owings lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, earning his second RBI of the game and giving the Eagles a 7-4 lead in the eighth.
In total, the Eagles racked-up 10 hits for the second consecutive contest en route to its 7-5 game two victory.
Coming off his first collegiate win, freshman Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) was impressive for the Green and White in Saturday's series finale. After relinquishing two runs in the first inning, Meis settled in, holding Ball State to just one run through his final 4.2 innings of work.
In his final full inning, Meis faced the minimum, sitting down the first Cardinal batter of the fifth frame via a strikeout before tossing a double-play ball to end the inning. Meis would return to the hill in the sixth inning, retiring the first two Ball State batters of the inning before giving way to senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)). In all, the freshman right-hander went 5.2 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out three Cardinal hitters. The effort earned Meis his second consecutive win on the mound.
Sparks, who tossed the final 3.1 innings for the Green and White, gave up just four hits in his outing, and picked up his first save of the season for Eastern. Although Sparks allowed two runs, he provided his best work when the Eagles needed it most, the bottom of the ninth. Following a one out double and a two out defensive error, Ball State had runners on first and third. Sparks refused to back down, and forced a fly-ball out to center field, ending the game and preserving a 7-5 EMU win.
Eastern returns to game action with a pair of midweek games, welcoming the University of Dayton to Oestrike Stadium, Tuesday, April 16, before traveling to Michigan State University for an evening affair with the Spartans, Wednesday, April 17. Tuesday's game is set to begin at 3 p.m., while Wednesday's game in East Lansing will begin at 6:35 p.m.
The opening game of the double-dip saw Eastern (8-27-1) come from behind on two different occasions to take a lead before being out-scored 7-0 over the final four innings in its eventual 11-5 setback. Game two saw EMU burst out to a 4-2 advantage in the third inning and, behind good starting pitching a solid bullpen effort, the Eagles outlasted the Cardinals to win the final game of the series, 7-5.
Game One: Eastern Michigan 5, Ball State 11
Unable to spark in its first two innings, the Eastern Michigan offense came to life in the third inning, down 1-0. With one on and one out, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) poked an RBI triple to left-center to give Eastern its first run of the game to tie the game, 1-1. With Timko on third, sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) blasted his second home run of the season to give EMU its first lead, 3-2.
After Ball State regained the lead, 4-3, the Eagles fought back to score two in the fifth. Junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.- Knightstown Community) led off the inning with a single to center field before junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) delivered a one out double, his ninth of the season, putting runners at the corners for Jones. Coming up big for the second time in the contest, Jones popped a two-run single to put Eastern ahead by one, 5-4.
Despite six Eagles combining to rack up 10 hits, including a 2-for-4, four-RBI game from Jones, Eastern was unable to score in its final four frames, as Ball State scored seven unanswered runs to claim game one, 11-5.
A pair of Eagles took to the mound for the Green and White in the first contest, as sophomore starter Holden Cook (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Casady (Murray State) went the first five innings, tossing 88 pitches and striking out three Cardinal batters along the way. On the mound in relief, fellow sophomore Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.- Stevenson) tossed three innings for EMU, fanning three in his 64-pitch effort.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 7, Ball State 5
As in game one, the Eastern Michigan bats were quiet through the first two innings in its series finale against Ball State, failing to score in either frame. The third inning, however, saw Eastern take a lead that it would not relinquish, as it erupted for four runs on three hits to go ahead, 4-2.
After the first two Eagle batters went down via strikeouts, Nate Jones reached base with a single up the middle. Following a walk in the ensuing at-bat, sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) singled to load the bases for EMU. Taking advantage of the two-out opportunity, senior captain John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) ripped a two-run double to put Eastern on top, 2-0. An error by the Ball State defense allowed Eastern to add two more runs in the frame, which extended the lead to 4-0.
Up 4-3 after three, Eastern added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to extend its lead. With two down in the fourth innings, Owings hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season. In the fifth, junior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) notched an RBI single to put Eastern ahead 6-3 after five innings.
With a two run advantage after seven, 6-4, the Eagles added an insurance run in the eighth to extend the lead to three. With one on and no outs, Timko notched a single to put runners on first and third for Eastern. In the next at-bat Owings lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, earning his second RBI of the game and giving the Eagles a 7-4 lead in the eighth.
In total, the Eagles racked-up 10 hits for the second consecutive contest en route to its 7-5 game two victory.
Coming off his first collegiate win, freshman Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) was impressive for the Green and White in Saturday's series finale. After relinquishing two runs in the first inning, Meis settled in, holding Ball State to just one run through his final 4.2 innings of work.
In his final full inning, Meis faced the minimum, sitting down the first Cardinal batter of the fifth frame via a strikeout before tossing a double-play ball to end the inning. Meis would return to the hill in the sixth inning, retiring the first two Ball State batters of the inning before giving way to senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)). In all, the freshman right-hander went 5.2 innings, giving up three earned runs and striking out three Cardinal hitters. The effort earned Meis his second consecutive win on the mound.
Sparks, who tossed the final 3.1 innings for the Green and White, gave up just four hits in his outing, and picked up his first save of the season for Eastern. Although Sparks allowed two runs, he provided his best work when the Eagles needed it most, the bottom of the ninth. Following a one out double and a two out defensive error, Ball State had runners on first and third. Sparks refused to back down, and forced a fly-ball out to center field, ending the game and preserving a 7-5 EMU win.
Eastern returns to game action with a pair of midweek games, welcoming the University of Dayton to Oestrike Stadium, Tuesday, April 16, before traveling to Michigan State University for an evening affair with the Spartans, Wednesday, April 17. Tuesday's game is set to begin at 3 p.m., while Wednesday's game in East Lansing will begin at 6:35 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: J. BAKER (4-1)
L: Cook, Holden (1-4)
S: FLOYD (1)
Batting:
2B: Owings, Zachary 1
3B: Timko, Jeff 1
HR: Jones, Nate 1
RBI: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Jones, Nate 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Jones, Nate 1 ; Peggs, Drake 2
CS: Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 1
HBP: Rensel Jr., John 1
Batting:
2B: SEBBY 1 ; CONANT 1 ; NOAH POWELL 1
HR: RICOTTA 1 ; W. BAKER 1 ; BLANKENBERGE 1
RBI: SEBBY 1 ; MESSINA 1 ; RICOTTA 1 ; W. BAKER 2 ; NOAH POWELL 1 ; BLANKENBERGE 3
SF: MESSINA 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SEBBY 1 ; MESSINA 1 ; RICOTTA 2 ; W. BAKER 2 ; CONANT 2 ; NOAH POWELL 2 ; BLANKENBERGE 1
SB: SIMPSON 1
HBP: RICOTTA 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C/IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballInside the Ride Episode 1: Celia Murkowski
Wednesday, September 17
Drew Beckner's Comments After BGSU Win in MAC Tournament
Friday, May 23
Robbie Britt's Comments After MAC Tournament Win over BGSU
Friday, May 23
EMU Stuns BGSU for First Postseason Win Since 2017
Friday, May 23