Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 26
Oestrike Stadium
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
9-32-1, 0
6
vs
5
Toledo
15-25, 0
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Eastern Michigan
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Baseball Earns Walk-Off Win Over Toledo
4/26/2019 9:29:00 PM | Baseball
Timko's ninth inning single gives Eagles series-opening win
Post Game Audio: Game-Winner, Eric_Roof, Jeff_Timko
Post Game Video: Game-Winning Hit
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) provided the late-game heroics as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team defeated the University of Toledo in walk-off fashion, 6-5, Friday, April 26 at Oestrike Stadium.
After the Rockets (15-25, 3-11 MAC) rallied to knot the score at five in the top of the ninth inning, the Eagles (9-32-1, 4-12 MAC) responded by securing their first walk-off victory since sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) clinched a 6-5 win over Ball State, April 7, 2018. Freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) pulled a leadoff double down the left-field line, before Kauffman laid a bunt single toward the third-base side to put runners on the corners with nobody down. Senior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Timko, who singled over the head of sophomore right fielder John Servello to drive in Hopkins and cap a back-and-forth series opener.
Rensel Jr. was stellar at the plate for the Green and White, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored prior to his intentional pass in the final frame. Sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Kauffman went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a run scored.
Senior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) pitched a season-high six innings and surrendered two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)) was credited with his first win of the season after tossing three innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on six hits while adding a strikeout.
The Eagles started the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Kauffman sent a routine ground ball to short, but was awarded second base when Toledo freshman Thomas Eitniear's throw sailed over the glove of freshman first baseman Ryan Thompson and bounced out of play. EMU quickly took advantage of the miscue, as Rensel Jr. lined a single into right to drive in Kauffman.
Despite opening the top of the fourth with three consecutive singles to load the bases, Toledo managed just one run during the frame. Freshman Darryn Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to score sophomore Trace Hatfield and even the game at one apiece.
The Rockets grabbed a 2-1 lead with a two-out single in the top of the sixth, but the Green and White jumped back in front with two runs in the home half of the inning. Rensel Jr. one-hopped a double to the wall in right-center, and was joined on the basepaths by junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) after the latter's first intentional walk of the night. Junior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) grounded an infield single to short, and advanced to second on another wild throw that allowed Rensel Jr. to come home. Nate Jones then through the right side to plate Owings and give the Eagles a 3-2 edge.
The Rockets reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh when senior Brad Boss hit a two-run single through the right side to make it a 4-3 contest. However, EMU bounced back by scoring twice in the last of the eighth. Rensel Jr. doubled into the right-field corner to start the rally, while Owings eventually reached on an intentional walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Nate Jones smashed a two-out base hit up the middle to drive in Rensel Jr., before junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) reached on Toledo's third error of the game that also permitted Owings to score from second to put the Eagles back in front, 5-4.
After Toledo's first batter of the ninth was retired on one pitch, the visitors used three straight singles to restore parity, but failed to complete their comeback bid despite having the final third of the Eagles' order due up in the bottom of the inning.
Eastern Michigan returns to Oestrike Stadium to continue its series against Toledo Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Post Game Video: Game-Winning Hit
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) provided the late-game heroics as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team defeated the University of Toledo in walk-off fashion, 6-5, Friday, April 26 at Oestrike Stadium.
After the Rockets (15-25, 3-11 MAC) rallied to knot the score at five in the top of the ninth inning, the Eagles (9-32-1, 4-12 MAC) responded by securing their first walk-off victory since sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) clinched a 6-5 win over Ball State, April 7, 2018. Freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) pulled a leadoff double down the left-field line, before Kauffman laid a bunt single toward the third-base side to put runners on the corners with nobody down. Senior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Timko, who singled over the head of sophomore right fielder John Servello to drive in Hopkins and cap a back-and-forth series opener.
Rensel Jr. was stellar at the plate for the Green and White, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored prior to his intentional pass in the final frame. Sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Kauffman went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a run scored.
Senior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) pitched a season-high six innings and surrendered two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. Senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)) was credited with his first win of the season after tossing three innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on six hits while adding a strikeout.
The Eagles started the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Kauffman sent a routine ground ball to short, but was awarded second base when Toledo freshman Thomas Eitniear's throw sailed over the glove of freshman first baseman Ryan Thompson and bounced out of play. EMU quickly took advantage of the miscue, as Rensel Jr. lined a single into right to drive in Kauffman.
Despite opening the top of the fourth with three consecutive singles to load the bases, Toledo managed just one run during the frame. Freshman Darryn Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to center that was deep enough to score sophomore Trace Hatfield and even the game at one apiece.
The Rockets grabbed a 2-1 lead with a two-out single in the top of the sixth, but the Green and White jumped back in front with two runs in the home half of the inning. Rensel Jr. one-hopped a double to the wall in right-center, and was joined on the basepaths by junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) after the latter's first intentional walk of the night. Junior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) grounded an infield single to short, and advanced to second on another wild throw that allowed Rensel Jr. to come home. Nate Jones then through the right side to plate Owings and give the Eagles a 3-2 edge.
The Rockets reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh when senior Brad Boss hit a two-run single through the right side to make it a 4-3 contest. However, EMU bounced back by scoring twice in the last of the eighth. Rensel Jr. doubled into the right-field corner to start the rally, while Owings eventually reached on an intentional walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Nate Jones smashed a two-out base hit up the middle to drive in Rensel Jr., before junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) reached on Toledo's third error of the game that also permitted Owings to score from second to put the Eagles back in front, 5-4.
After Toledo's first batter of the ninth was retired on one pitch, the visitors used three straight singles to restore parity, but failed to complete their comeback bid despite having the final third of the Eagles' order due up in the bottom of the inning.
Eastern Michigan returns to Oestrike Stadium to continue its series against Toledo Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sparks, Mitchell (1-3)
L: HAUGH, Nate (2-3)
Batting:
RBI: HATFIELD, Trace 1 ; BOSS, Brad 2 ; DAVIS, Darryn 1 ; THOMPSON, Ryan 1
SF: DAVIS, Darryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HATFIELD, Trace 1 ; BOSS, Brad 1 ; COMPTON, Andrew 1 ; EITNIEAR, Thomas 2
CS: EITNIEAR, Thomas 1
Batting:
2B: Jones, Nate 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 2
RBI: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Jones, Nate 2 ; Rensel Jr., John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Owings, Zachary 2 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 2
PO: Timko, Jeff 1
Game Leaders
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3
RBI
1
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4
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0
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2
RBI
2
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4
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1
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2
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5
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1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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