Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 23
Sanford, Fla.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
2
vs
3
Pittsburgh
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Ninth-Inning Comeback Falls Short as Baseball Falls to Pitt, 3-2
2/23/2020 3:07:00 PM | Baseball
The Panthers handed EMU its first series-sweep of the season
SANFORD, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team mounted a furious two-run, ninth-inning comeback, but ultimately fell just short of its Atlantic Coast Conference-competition, the University of Pittsburgh, 3-2, in the third and final game of the weekend series between the teams today, Feb. 23, at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
After eight scoreless innings, Eastern (1-5) scrapped together two runs in the ninth to bring the game within one run, 3-2. Redshirt sophomore Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) delivered a two-out RBI-single to give EMU its first run, before a Pittsburgh (5-1) error brought the game back to a one-score ledger. Ultimately, however, Pitt was able to secure the final out and earn the win, giving it a three-game sweep over Eastern.
Junior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington Distrcit (Parkland)) and Gora led the way offensively as the duo registered three, and two hits, respectively. Gora ended the game with the team's lone RBI.
EMU got solid pitching from its starter, junior Scott Granzotto (Nortville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard), who allowed just four hits and one run over his four innings of work. The third-year southpaw pitched his way to a season-best six strikeouts before giving way to junior transfer Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior (Southeast)), who tossed three innings of one-run baseball.
Despite 12 hitters stepping to the plate with runners on base in the first seven innings of the game, EMU was unable to get a single player past second base with less than two outs. The Green and White had just two hits with runners on during that stretch, and went just 3-for-11 in advancement opportunities.
After a 1-2-3 plate appearance by the first, EMU found itself on the basepaths in both the second, and fourth innings, respectively. Juniors Warkentin and Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) each singled to give EMU its best scoring chance of the game in the second, but a groundout ended the threat. Warkentin's second hit of the afternoon paved the way for his advancement to third in the fourth frame, but a looking strikeout prevented the Ontario, Canada-product from scoring yet again.
Brothers Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), a senior, and Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), a junior, provided a pair of singles during the seventh inning, again giving Eastern life on offense. Pitt hurlers dug deep once again, however, to keep the Green and White off the boar.
Despite its struggles on offense, the duo of Granzotto and Reinkall shined. Facing first-inning adversity that saw two Panthers get into scoring position with just one out, Granzotto fought back and picked up two strikeouts, ending the inning and scoring threat. He continued without a hitch until the fourth, when Pitt scored its first run. Even then, the southpaw got out of a jam that featured runners on second and third with no outs, allowing just the one run. Reinkall fought back after giving up one run in his initial inning, the fifth, to silence the Pitt bats in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
Although Eastern was able to get runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings, Pitt's defensive efforts proved too good for EMU to complete the comeback. Still yet, the young Eagles lineup continued to show fight and resolve throughout the series, traits that will certainly bode well throughout the remainder of the season.
Eastern will take a one-day break before getting back on the diamond for a single game against Florida Gulf Coast University, Tuesday, Feb. 25. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers.
After eight scoreless innings, Eastern (1-5) scrapped together two runs in the ninth to bring the game within one run, 3-2. Redshirt sophomore Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) delivered a two-out RBI-single to give EMU its first run, before a Pittsburgh (5-1) error brought the game back to a one-score ledger. Ultimately, however, Pitt was able to secure the final out and earn the win, giving it a three-game sweep over Eastern.
Junior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington Distrcit (Parkland)) and Gora led the way offensively as the duo registered three, and two hits, respectively. Gora ended the game with the team's lone RBI.
EMU got solid pitching from its starter, junior Scott Granzotto (Nortville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard), who allowed just four hits and one run over his four innings of work. The third-year southpaw pitched his way to a season-best six strikeouts before giving way to junior transfer Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior (Southeast)), who tossed three innings of one-run baseball.
Despite 12 hitters stepping to the plate with runners on base in the first seven innings of the game, EMU was unable to get a single player past second base with less than two outs. The Green and White had just two hits with runners on during that stretch, and went just 3-for-11 in advancement opportunities.
After a 1-2-3 plate appearance by the first, EMU found itself on the basepaths in both the second, and fourth innings, respectively. Juniors Warkentin and Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) each singled to give EMU its best scoring chance of the game in the second, but a groundout ended the threat. Warkentin's second hit of the afternoon paved the way for his advancement to third in the fourth frame, but a looking strikeout prevented the Ontario, Canada-product from scoring yet again.
Brothers Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), a senior, and Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), a junior, provided a pair of singles during the seventh inning, again giving Eastern life on offense. Pitt hurlers dug deep once again, however, to keep the Green and White off the boar.
Despite its struggles on offense, the duo of Granzotto and Reinkall shined. Facing first-inning adversity that saw two Panthers get into scoring position with just one out, Granzotto fought back and picked up two strikeouts, ending the inning and scoring threat. He continued without a hitch until the fourth, when Pitt scored its first run. Even then, the southpaw got out of a jam that featured runners on second and third with no outs, allowing just the one run. Reinkall fought back after giving up one run in his initial inning, the fifth, to silence the Pitt bats in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
Although Eastern was able to get runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings, Pitt's defensive efforts proved too good for EMU to complete the comeback. Still yet, the young Eagles lineup continued to show fight and resolve throughout the series, traits that will certainly bode well throughout the remainder of the season.
Eastern will take a one-day break before getting back on the diamond for a single game against Florida Gulf Coast University, Tuesday, Feb. 25. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers.
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