Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, May 5
Kalamazoo, Mich.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-37-1, 6-16
6
at
7
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
17-26, 9-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
0
6
11
1
Western Michigan
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
3
X
7
8
1
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Baseball Swept by Western Michigan
5/5/2019 5:17:00 PM | Baseball
Timko knocks team-leading fifth home run
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team headed home disappointed after dropping a third consecutive game to rival Western Michigan University, 7-6, today, May 5, at Robert J. Bobb Stadium. In the final game of three-game weekend series, Eastern (11-36-1; 6-15 MAC) found itself with an eighth inning lead, 6-4, before the Broncos scored three runs in the final full frame of the Sunday setback.
Offensively, the Eagles showed improvement over their performance in the series' first two contests, tallying six runs on 11 hits in the series-finale. In front of friends and family from neighboring Battle Creek, junior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) provided a bright spot as he recorded his second straight multi-hit contest, and his 11th of 2019. In all, Jones went 2-for-5 in the Cinco de Mayo contest.
In a moment similar to one that happened in game two of the series, May 4, when senior Cameron Cruz (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton (Mesa C.C.) knocked a home run over the left field wall, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) provided fireworks of his own on Sunday when he smacked a solo shot in the top half of the fifth. The knock, Timko's team-leading fifth home run of the season, gave Eastern its first run of the game and cut Western's lead to three, 4-1. On top of being critical for Eastern's comeback hopes, the hit will serve as a memorable one for Timko, as it came with his father, former Western Michigan baseball standout John Timko, in the stands.
Down 4-1, EMU battled to close the gap, adding another run in the seventh inning to cut the Bronco lead to a pair, 4-2. After a one-out double from Timko put runners on second and third, junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) came through with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.
The eighth inning proved to be Eastern's best of the game. Following two consecutive singles off the bats of sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), and a WMU error, the Eagles found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs. In the ensuing at-bat, sophomore Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) knocked an RBI single to bring Eastern within one, 4-3. Senior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) joined the party two batters later when he blasted a two-run single up the middle, giving EMU its first lead of the game, 5-4. Eastern added an insurance run following a sacrifice bunt from Timko.
In all, the eighth inning saw the Eagles score four runs on four hits, the most of any single-inning in the series for EMU. Offensively, four Eagles, Nick Jones, Nate Jones, Timko, and Hopkins, registered multi-hit contests.
On the mound, four Eagles saw game action. The most impressive work came from senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)). Taking over in the fourth inning, Sparks tossed a next-to-perfect 3.1 innings for the Green and White, giving up no hits and no runs in his effort. Only one Bronco reached base while the southpaw was on the hill, doing so on a defensive error in the seventh inning.
Despite its best hitting performance of the series, and solid middle-inning pitching, Eastern was unable to stop the Western Michigan comeback, eventually dropping the game, 7-6.
Eastern returns to game action against the University of Michigan, Wednesday, May 8, at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch in the non-conference midweek game between the Eagles and Wolverines is set for 6 p.m.
Offensively, the Eagles showed improvement over their performance in the series' first two contests, tallying six runs on 11 hits in the series-finale. In front of friends and family from neighboring Battle Creek, junior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) provided a bright spot as he recorded his second straight multi-hit contest, and his 11th of 2019. In all, Jones went 2-for-5 in the Cinco de Mayo contest.
In a moment similar to one that happened in game two of the series, May 4, when senior Cameron Cruz (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton (Mesa C.C.) knocked a home run over the left field wall, redshirt sophomore Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) provided fireworks of his own on Sunday when he smacked a solo shot in the top half of the fifth. The knock, Timko's team-leading fifth home run of the season, gave Eastern its first run of the game and cut Western's lead to three, 4-1. On top of being critical for Eastern's comeback hopes, the hit will serve as a memorable one for Timko, as it came with his father, former Western Michigan baseball standout John Timko, in the stands.
Down 4-1, EMU battled to close the gap, adding another run in the seventh inning to cut the Bronco lead to a pair, 4-2. After a one-out double from Timko put runners on second and third, junior Zachary Owings (Saline, Mich.-Saline) came through with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field.
The eighth inning proved to be Eastern's best of the game. Following two consecutive singles off the bats of sophomore Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and freshman Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), and a WMU error, the Eagles found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs. In the ensuing at-bat, sophomore Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) knocked an RBI single to bring Eastern within one, 4-3. Senior John Rensel Jr. (Tallmadge, Ohio-Tallmadge) joined the party two batters later when he blasted a two-run single up the middle, giving EMU its first lead of the game, 5-4. Eastern added an insurance run following a sacrifice bunt from Timko.
In all, the eighth inning saw the Eagles score four runs on four hits, the most of any single-inning in the series for EMU. Offensively, four Eagles, Nick Jones, Nate Jones, Timko, and Hopkins, registered multi-hit contests.
On the mound, four Eagles saw game action. The most impressive work came from senior Mitchell Sparks (Willis, Texas-Carmel (Ind.) (Iowa Lakes C.C.)). Taking over in the fourth inning, Sparks tossed a next-to-perfect 3.1 innings for the Green and White, giving up no hits and no runs in his effort. Only one Bronco reached base while the southpaw was on the hill, doing so on a defensive error in the seventh inning.
Despite its best hitting performance of the series, and solid middle-inning pitching, Eastern was unable to stop the Western Michigan comeback, eventually dropping the game, 7-6.
Eastern returns to game action against the University of Michigan, Wednesday, May 8, at Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch in the non-conference midweek game between the Eagles and Wolverines is set for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MULLEN, Will (3-3)
L: House, Thomas (1-4)
S: MEHELICH, Zach (1)
Batting:
2B: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
HR: Timko, Jeff 1
RBI: Timko, Jeff 2 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Rensel Jr., John 2
SH: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Easter, Shane 1
SF: Owings, Zachary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Jones, Nate 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Cruz, Cameron 1
HBP: Kauffman, Jared 1
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Batting:
2B: HUDSON, Logan 1 ; DEVINE, Drew 1
3B: MCINTYRE, Justin 1
RBI: ROCHE,Jimmy 1 ; DUNN, Blake 1 ; HUDSON, Logan 1 ; DEVINE, Drew 1 ; MARSHALL, Cooper 1 ; MCINTYRE, Justin 2
SH: MCINTYRE, Justin 1
SF: ROCHE,Jimmy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GRYS, Nate 1 ; HUDSON, Logan 1 ; DEVINE, Drew 2 ; MARSHALL, Cooper 2 ; MCINTYRE, Justin 1
SB: MARSHALL, Cooper 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC/IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballScout day✅
Monday, September 22
Inside 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