Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 29
Port Charlotte, Fla.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-8
1
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4
Villanova
4-4
1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
8
0
Villanova
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
X
4
6
1
EMU Baseball Drops a Pair on Day Two of Snowbird Classic
2/29/2020 5:51:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern closes out the tournament Sunday with a rematch versus Northeastern
Photo Gallery: Villanova. Northeastern.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team continued its play in the Sunshine State with a doubleheader at the 2020 Snowbird Classic at North Charlotte Regional Park Saturday, Sept. 29. Playing on Leap Year for the first time since 2012, Eastern fell to Villanova University, 4-1, in the opener before falling late to Northeastern University, 6-1.
The Eagles previously played on Feb. 29 during the 1984, 1992, 2004, 2008, and 2012 campaigns. The Green and White are 2-6 in those extra day contests.
Eastern closes out it stay in the State of Florida Sunday, March 1, with a rematch against Northeastern. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. from Port Charlotte.
Game 1 – Villanova 4, Eastern Michigan 1
Despite a solid pitching performance, the Eagles could not muster enough offense to knock off the Wildcats in the opener. EMU collected just one hit in 17 opportunities with runners on the bases, despite limiting VU to just six hits on the day.
Junior transfer Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District-Parkland) collected EMU's lone RBI as a part of a 3-for-4 effort. Meanwhile, junior captain Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) pitched a stellar 2.1 innings of work in his seventh career appearance for Eastern, as the EMU pitching fanned seven on the afternoon. Easter now has 8.0 career innings pitched with no runs allowed and just one hit given up.
The Wildcats jumped on the board in the first inning, as leadoff hitter Chris Rotondo singled and came around to score three batters later on a knock to right. Walks were the story of the second inning after a one out homerun opened the scoring for VU, sophomore Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) walked three batters three in the frame as the 'Cats expanded the edge to 3-0.
After a slow start, Meis began to settle in with quick innings in the third and fourth. He struck out three of the six batters faced with no ball even leaving the infield in the two stanzas. However, he was unable to escape the fifth inning after giving up a leadoff double, a wild pitch and flyball to right expanded the Villanova lead to 4-0.
Meis finished the day with seven strikeouts and five walks in 4.2 innings of work. Meanwhile, VU's starter Gordon Graceffo was in his own groove, mowing down seven-consecutive Eagles in the middle innings before a bouncer up the middle by senior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) ended the string of success.
EMU's best scoring chance since the second inning came in the seventh. Junior newcomer Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller-Lincoln Trail) opened with a single and headed for third after a throwing error. Unfortunately, he would get no further with Graceffo getting redshirt junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) to roll out the second to keep Eastern scoreless.
Finally in the eighth EMU was able to break through to pull back within three runs at 4-1. Redshirt junior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) led off with a single to right and Nick Jones walked to set the table for Warkentin. The junior college transfer jumped on the 1-0 offering to plate Timko with the second double of his EMU career. Villanova would end the threat with a popup and a groundout to keep the advantage at three.
Game 2 –Northeastern 6, Eastern Michigan 1
After working in and out of trouble for most of the afternoon, Eastern Michigan could not hold on to a 1-0 lead in the nightcap. EMU took the lead in the fourth, but surrendered six runs in the final two innings to drop its ninth-consecutive contest.
Sophomore stand-out Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) was the lone Eagle to collect to hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a triple. Junior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) did not figure in the decision after recording five strikeouts in the start.
Both starting pitchers were dynamite the first time through the lineup. In his first career start, Northeastern's Cam Schlittler struck out six of the first nine Eagles he faced. On the flipside, EMU's Thomas House was just as dynamic keeping it to the minimum by notching two strikeouts, a pickoff, and a groundball double play.
Things would change in the top of the fourth for Eastern Michigan, as Schlittler served up a triple to Hopkins one batter deep into the inning. Nick Jones would promptly drive in the first run of the contest with a sharp single to right to plate the go-ahead tally.
Not to be outdone, the Huskies quickly loaded the based in the bottom of the inning aided by a hit-by-pitch and a walk. House bounced back with a strikeout and a weak popup to second to extinguish the pressure-packed situation and keep the slight 1-0 edge.
After the quick blip on the offensive radar, the pitching continued to dominate the storylines for both sides. House departed the contest after a season-best 5.0 innings, scattering two hits and five punchouts. Freshman hurler Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) worked himself into trouble with a pair of walks and a single to load up the bases. Much like House did in the fourth, Wagoner found a way to send the Huskies back to the dugout with a popup.
EMU stranded a runner into scoring position in the top of the seventh after junior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) collected his first double of the year.
After the first two were retired in the bottom of the seventh, a Spenser Smith two-base hit down the line at first gave NU new life. Junior college transfer Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior-Southeast) spelled Wagoner on the bump and was rudely greeting with a chopper last the third baseman to plate to run and even things at 1-all. Northeastern would no more in the inning as catcher Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) threw out the runner trying to steal to end the stanza.
After twice leaving the bases loaded, Northeastern would finally solve the riddle in the eight. NU pushed the go-ahead tally in on a walk and added five insurance runs as nine men batted in the inning.
Back-to-back hits were all Eastern was able to string together in the ninth as the Huskies completed the comeback-victory.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team continued its play in the Sunshine State with a doubleheader at the 2020 Snowbird Classic at North Charlotte Regional Park Saturday, Sept. 29. Playing on Leap Year for the first time since 2012, Eastern fell to Villanova University, 4-1, in the opener before falling late to Northeastern University, 6-1.
The Eagles previously played on Feb. 29 during the 1984, 1992, 2004, 2008, and 2012 campaigns. The Green and White are 2-6 in those extra day contests.
Eastern closes out it stay in the State of Florida Sunday, March 1, with a rematch against Northeastern. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. from Port Charlotte.
Game 1 – Villanova 4, Eastern Michigan 1
Despite a solid pitching performance, the Eagles could not muster enough offense to knock off the Wildcats in the opener. EMU collected just one hit in 17 opportunities with runners on the bases, despite limiting VU to just six hits on the day.
Junior transfer Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District-Parkland) collected EMU's lone RBI as a part of a 3-for-4 effort. Meanwhile, junior captain Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) pitched a stellar 2.1 innings of work in his seventh career appearance for Eastern, as the EMU pitching fanned seven on the afternoon. Easter now has 8.0 career innings pitched with no runs allowed and just one hit given up.
The Wildcats jumped on the board in the first inning, as leadoff hitter Chris Rotondo singled and came around to score three batters later on a knock to right. Walks were the story of the second inning after a one out homerun opened the scoring for VU, sophomore Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park) walked three batters three in the frame as the 'Cats expanded the edge to 3-0.
After a slow start, Meis began to settle in with quick innings in the third and fourth. He struck out three of the six batters faced with no ball even leaving the infield in the two stanzas. However, he was unable to escape the fifth inning after giving up a leadoff double, a wild pitch and flyball to right expanded the Villanova lead to 4-0.
Meis finished the day with seven strikeouts and five walks in 4.2 innings of work. Meanwhile, VU's starter Gordon Graceffo was in his own groove, mowing down seven-consecutive Eagles in the middle innings before a bouncer up the middle by senior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) ended the string of success.
EMU's best scoring chance since the second inning came in the seventh. Junior newcomer Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller-Lincoln Trail) opened with a single and headed for third after a throwing error. Unfortunately, he would get no further with Graceffo getting redshirt junior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) to roll out the second to keep Eastern scoreless.
Finally in the eighth EMU was able to break through to pull back within three runs at 4-1. Redshirt junior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) led off with a single to right and Nick Jones walked to set the table for Warkentin. The junior college transfer jumped on the 1-0 offering to plate Timko with the second double of his EMU career. Villanova would end the threat with a popup and a groundout to keep the advantage at three.
Game 2 –Northeastern 6, Eastern Michigan 1
After working in and out of trouble for most of the afternoon, Eastern Michigan could not hold on to a 1-0 lead in the nightcap. EMU took the lead in the fourth, but surrendered six runs in the final two innings to drop its ninth-consecutive contest.
Sophomore stand-out Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) was the lone Eagle to collect to hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a triple. Junior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) did not figure in the decision after recording five strikeouts in the start.
Both starting pitchers were dynamite the first time through the lineup. In his first career start, Northeastern's Cam Schlittler struck out six of the first nine Eagles he faced. On the flipside, EMU's Thomas House was just as dynamic keeping it to the minimum by notching two strikeouts, a pickoff, and a groundball double play.
Things would change in the top of the fourth for Eastern Michigan, as Schlittler served up a triple to Hopkins one batter deep into the inning. Nick Jones would promptly drive in the first run of the contest with a sharp single to right to plate the go-ahead tally.
Not to be outdone, the Huskies quickly loaded the based in the bottom of the inning aided by a hit-by-pitch and a walk. House bounced back with a strikeout and a weak popup to second to extinguish the pressure-packed situation and keep the slight 1-0 edge.
After the quick blip on the offensive radar, the pitching continued to dominate the storylines for both sides. House departed the contest after a season-best 5.0 innings, scattering two hits and five punchouts. Freshman hurler Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) worked himself into trouble with a pair of walks and a single to load up the bases. Much like House did in the fourth, Wagoner found a way to send the Huskies back to the dugout with a popup.
EMU stranded a runner into scoring position in the top of the seventh after junior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) collected his first double of the year.
After the first two were retired in the bottom of the seventh, a Spenser Smith two-base hit down the line at first gave NU new life. Junior college transfer Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior-Southeast) spelled Wagoner on the bump and was rudely greeting with a chopper last the third baseman to plate to run and even things at 1-all. Northeastern would no more in the inning as catcher Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) threw out the runner trying to steal to end the stanza.
After twice leaving the bases loaded, Northeastern would finally solve the riddle in the eight. NU pushed the go-ahead tally in on a walk and added five insurance runs as nine men batted in the inning.
Back-to-back hits were all Eastern was able to string together in the ninth as the Huskies completed the comeback-victory.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GRACEFFO, Gordon (3-0)
L: Meis, Justin (0-2)
S: ARELLA, Tyler (1)
Batting:
2B: Warkentin, Daniel 2
RBI: Warkentin, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Timko, Jeff 1
SB: Warkentin, Daniel 1
CS: Jones, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: O'NEILL, Pat 1
HR: MANTO, Jeff 1
RBI: O'NEILL, Pat 1 ; LATRENTA, Lucas 1 ; MCNARY, Dylan 1 ; MANTO, Jeff 1
SH: O'NEILL, Pat 1
SF: MCNARY, Dylan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROTONDO, Chris 1 ; O'NEILL, Pat 1 ; MANTO, Jeff 1 ; MARGULIS, Sam 1
CS: ROTONDO, Chris 1 ; MCNARY, Dylan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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4
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H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
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IF/OF
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IF
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OF
/ BaseballC/IF
/ Baseball
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/ Baseball
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/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
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/ BaseballIF
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