Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
11-41-1, 0
Kent State
28-22, 0
Rally Falls Short in Close Loss to Kent State
5/16/2019 8:04:00 PM | Baseball
Alex Wolanski blasts first-career homer on his Senior Weekend
After falling behind, 5-0, in the first inning, Eastern (11-41-1; 6-19 MAC) clawed its way back into contention, scoring runs to get within two on three different occasions in the contest. The highest level of excitement came in the ninth inning; down four, the Eagles scored two runs, and brought the winning run to the plate, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling short, 9-7.
Offensively, a pair of slow innings was quickly rectified in the third when senior Alex Wolanski (Naperville, Illinois-Neuqua Valley) blasted his first-career home run to left field, putting Eastern's first run on the board and bringing the Eagles within four, 5-1. EMU fed off the momentum Wolanski created, as fellow seniors Cameron Cruz (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton (Mesa C.C.)) and John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) knocked a single and an RBI double, respectively, in back-to-back at-bats to give Eastern its second run of the game. A fourth-consecutive hit, this time an RBI two-bagger by Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline), brought the Eagles within two, 5-3.
Down, 7-3, in the eighth, EMU again rallied to get within striking distance. Three doubles in the inning, from sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), and Cruz, allowed Eastern to cross the plate twice, bringing the Green and White within a pair, 7-5.
After Kent State expanded their lead in the ninth, 9-5, the Eagles used another double, this one off the bat of sophomore Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) to spark a comeback. With two men on and two out, Hopkins popped a two-run single to bring EMU within a deuce, 9-7. Following a four-pitch walk to Wolanski, Cruz came to the plate as the winning run. Although the senior put the ball in play, Kent State's shortstop made the play, ending the game and the Eagles' comeback attempt.
In total, the Eastern Michigan offense tallied seven runs on 12 hits, but, despite outhitting the Golden Flashes, was unable to rally for the win, falling 9-7 in game one of the three-game series.
On the mound, senior Jackson Shaver (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids C.C.)) got the start for EMU. After a challenging first inning, the righty settled in nicely, keeping Kent State off the board in 3.1 of his final 4.1 innings of work. In total, the veteran hurler tossed 5.1 innings, striking out three in his effort.
Three other Eagles pitched in the game after Shaver. Sophomore Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson), freshman Jack Dungan (Commerce Twp., Mich.—Lakeland) each went 1.2 innings, respectively, before freshman Tyler Koons took the bump to finish the final out of the ninth.
Although EMU pitching kept Kent State off the board in five frames, the Golden Flashes overpowered the Eagles for nine runs on 11 hits, forcing the Green and White to play catch-up from the first frame on.
Game two between Eastern and Kent State is set for Friday, May 17, at 3 p.m. The three-game series will conclude Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WOLLERSHEIM, Connor (6-5)
L: Shaver, Jackson (0-5)
S: PARKS, Pavin (2)
Batting:
2B: PARKS, Pavin 1 ; KIRBY, Justin 2
HR: PARKS, Pavin 1 ; MATHEWS, Collin 1
RBI: CAREW, BEN 1 ; TURNER, Michael 1 ; O'BRIEN, Kian 1 ; PARKS, Pavin 2 ; MATHEWS, Collin 3 ; HOLLANDER, Josh 1
SF: TURNER, Michael 1 ; HOLLANDER, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CAREW, BEN 1 ; TOUCHETTE, Cam 2 ; O'BRIEN, Kian 1 ; PARKS, Pavin 2 ; MATHEWS, Collin 1 ; KIRBY, Justin 2
SB: CAREW, BEN 1 ; TOUCHETTE, Cam 1 ; KIRBY, Justin 1 ; HOLLANDER, Josh 1
CS: PARKS, Pavin 1 ; MATHEWS, Collin 1
HBP: MATHEWS, Collin 1
PO: CAREW, BEN 1
Batting:
2B: Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Jones, Nate 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
HR: Wolanski, Alex 1
RBI: Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 3 ; Wolanski, Alex 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rensel Jr., John 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Timko, Jeff 1 ; Jones, Nate 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Wolanski, Alex 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
HBP: Kauffman, Jared 2 ; Timko, Jeff 1
