Eastern Michigan Athletics

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Final Game Notes for EMU Baseball: 2020

4/27/2020 3:08:00 PM | Baseball

Final Note Package

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -
The Eastern Michigan University baseball team concluded its season after just 14 games due to the outbreak of the Corona-virus, or COVID-19, pandemic. While the season was cut short, there were plenty of positives. 
    The final note package includes year-end statistics, storylines, streaks, and team information. 
    Fans are encouraged to continue to follow @EMU_Baseball on social media and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all-things EMU baseball.

THANK YOU: The Eastern Michigan baseball team, along with the EMU athletic media relations office, would like to thank each and every student, alumnus, and fan that supported the team in 2019-20. Additionally, the team offers thanks to all support staff, medical doctors, and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program. 

50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: The 2020 season marks 50 years since the Eastern Michigan baseball program captured the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship. The then-Hurons won five out of six games to capture the title, as they defeated Emporia State, New Haven, Northeast Louisiana (twice), and Livingston to capture the crown.
    Jeff Peck was named the Tournament MVP after setting a national tournament mark at the plate, where he went 13-for-23 (.565) with three RBIs. Eastern Michigan shortstop Terry Collins was named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Tournament, as the then-Hurons finished the season with a 41-11 mark.

THE WARKENTIN WAY: After starting the season 0-for-15 through the first four games of the 2020 season, junior transfer Daniel Warkentin found his groove at the plate. The Leamington, Ontario native finished the season on a 10-game reached base streak, and seven-game hitting streak. Both streaks were the longest by any Eagle in 2020. 

MAKE WAY FOR THE MEIS-STER: Sophomore righty Justin Meis was consistently good for Eastern during the 2020 campaign. The Pittsburgh native tossed his most efficient outing of the season at Cincinnati, March 7,  going 5.0 innings and allowing just two runs. The pitcher also tallied seven strikeouts and walked no one in his start against the Bearcats. Additionally, Meis ranked third in the Mid-American Conference in total strikeouts (29), while his 11 strikeouts looking led the league.

BEST IN THE MAC: EMU's .973 fielding percentage was the best of any school in the Mid-American Conference in 2020. Eastern had just 13 errors in 477 chances this season. In addition, the Eagles are one-of-two MAC teams that finished the year with no passed balls.

WE SEE YOU, MIKEY!: Redshirt junior Mike Monahan made his first start in the Green and White in 2020 against Cincinnati, March 8. In his first start since 2018, the Saline, Mich. native recorded Eastern's only RBI with a single to center field. The redshirt junior also had the team's best batting average over the series, .400 (2-for-5), against the Bearcats.  
    The fourth-year Eagle had a career-best game against Northeastern the week prior, March. 1.  Monahan notched a personal-best two RBIs in the contest, and had EMU's best hit of the day, a double down the left field line. Monahan's three RBIs this season were already a career-best for the Saline, Mich. product. 

STOLEN BAGS: Eastern Michigan recorded a season-best four stolen bases at Cincinnati, March 7. Redshirt junior Drake Peggs accounted for half of those (2), a single-game career-high for the Knightstown, Ind.-native. 

BROTHERS IN ACTION: Eastern Michigan had three sets of brothers involved in the game against Cincinnati, March 8. Along with Head Coach Eric Roof and Assistant Coach Jonathan Roof in the dugout, the Eagles had two sets of brothers on the field. Senior Nick Jones and junior brother Nate Jones started at catcher and centerfield, respectively. On the mound, junior Thomas House got the start, and freshman sibling Trevor House was brought in for relief.

SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: Doing their best to move on after the 11-43-1 2019 season, the Eagles showed some signs of change for the better through 14 games. In the 14 games of the 2020 season, the Eagles recorded 63 runs, 110 hits, and 56 RBIs, which is improved from the same stretch that started the 2019 campaign of 56 runs, 106 hits and 43 RBIs. 

RIGHT HITS AT THE RIGHT TIME: Though the season was called after just 14 games, five Eagles finished the season with double-digit hits, and combined for over half of EMU's RBIs (29-of-54). Senior Nick Jones led the way with 17 hits and added five RBIs, while junior Daniel Warkentin was just behind with 14 hits and eight RBIs. Redshirt junior Jeff Timko added 13 hits and three RBIs, and sophomore Taylor Hopkins connected for 12 hits and team-top nine RBIs. Junior Nate Jones rounds out the double-digit hit club with 10 hits and four RBIs.

RACKING UP THE FLYER MILES: As with most northern-based teams, EMU was tasked with playing its early-season games in warmer climates before it could play at home. The Eagles played their all 14 games away from Ypsilanti this past season. At its longest, the Eagles played nearly 1,083 miles from the comfort of home, when it traveled to Fort Myers, Fla. for a single game against Florida Gulf Coast.

NEW YEAR, NEW FACES: With every year, a crop of new talent arrives in Ypsilanti. This season, the Eagles welcomed a total of 10 new players to campus, adding a slew of talent to an already promising roster. In all, the Eagles added five right-handed pitchers, two infielders, one catcher, one outfielder, and one left-handed pitcher. A total of 34 players donned the "Script E" in 2020.

A LOOK BACK AT 2019: Last year's season saw the Eagles win just 11 games, including six in conference play, en route to a 11-43-1 overall record. The squad finished ninth-overall in the league, and failed to participate in the MAC Tournament for the first time since the 2015 season. EMU's six conference wins came in the form of sweeps, as it bested both Toledo and Bowling Green in perfect 3-0 fashion.

EAGLES ADD 35th PLAYER TO ROSTER: Together with Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams, the EMU baseball program welcomed Bentley "Bennie" Booth, a nine-year old from Belleville, Mich., as its newest team member, Friday, Jan. 31. 
    With his mom, Marguerita, and brother, Bradley standing by, Booth entered the Convocation Center media room to participate in a full-scale press conference and official signing. Nearly 50 guests, made up of EMU student-athletes, staff members, and local media, were in attendance to watch as the wide-smiling boy suffering from short bowel syndrome penned his name on his official "letter of intent."

BAULT PROVIDES SPARK AT FGCU: Junior college transfer Christian Bault led the EMU offense at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb. 25. The Maineville, Ohio native was one of four Eagles to record a hit in the contest, and was the only member of the Green and White to register a multi-hit performance.  He now has two multi-hit efforts in seven-career games with EMU. Bault also contributed the team's only RBIs against FGCU (2). 

BIG LEAGUE SUCCESS: Head Coach Eric Roof has proven his ability to develop pro-level talent in his two seasons patrolling the dugout. Each season, the Eagles have had a player drafted in the annual MLB Draft. 2018 saw shortstop Max Schuemann go to the Oakland Athletics, before Zachary Owings was selected by the Miami Marlins in 2019.
    This year, Roof has already shown the ability to lure top talent to Ypsilanti. Despite being drafted in the 22nd round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, freshman Cameron Wagoner still chose to enroll at EMU. This top-prospect will now don the "Script E," for the foreseeable future. 

MAC PRESEASON POLL: Eastern was selected to finish eighth-overall in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, as announced by the league office, Feb. 12. EMU finished just behind Ohio (67 points), and Western Michigan (57 points), after receiving 38 points in the poll. The Eagles finished the 2019 season ninth-overall with a 11-43-1 mark, including a 6-21 record in league play. Toledo (33 points), Bowling Green (30 points), and Akron (20 points) rounded out the poll in the No. 8 through No. 10 spots, respectively. 

MAC Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Central Michigan (3) – 109 points
2. Kent State (2) – 106 points
3. Ball State (3)  -- 105 points
4. Miami (2) – 93 points
5. Northern Illinois (1) – 68 points
6. Ohio – 67 points
7. Western Michigan – 57 points
8. Eastern Michigan – 38 points
9. Toledo – 33 points
10. Bowling Green – 30 points
11. Akron – 20 points

Tournament Champion: Kent State (6), Miami (2), Ball State (1), Central Michigan (1), Northern Illinois (1)

JOLT FROM JONES: Senior captain Nick Jones put together a strong offensive week for the Green and White in a single game at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb. 25, and four games at the Snowbird Classic, Feb. 28-March 1. The Battle Creek, Mich. native led the team in hits (8), runs (5), batting average (.471) and on-base percentage (.526). 

ABOVE .350: EMU had a trio of players hit at .350-or-above in its five games at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb. 25, and at the Snowbird Classic, Feb. 28-March 1. Juniors Nate Jones and Daniel Warkentin hit .350, and .368, respectively, while senior Nick Jones finished at .471. The trip accounted for eight of the team's 18 RBIs during the stretch, and notched 22 of the squad's 40 total hits. 

WATCH OUT FOR WAGONER: After struggling in his first two collegiate outings (at Austin Peay, Feb. 15; at Pittsburgh, Feb. 22), freshman hurler Cameron Wagoner looked dominant against Florida Gulf Coast, Feb. 25. The 2019 22nd round draft pick of the Texas Rangers tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two free passes while striking out four. Prior to the appearance, Wagoner had given up six earned runs in just 1.1 total innings of work.

HOW ABOUT HOUSE: Junior Thomas House got his first start of the season at Florida Gulf Coast, Feb. 25, and had an impressive outing for the Green and White. The Ross, Ohio native went four innings strong, allowing just two hits and one earned run, while striking out four. In total, the EMU pitching staff allowed a season-low seven hits in the game, spearheaded by House's game-best four-inning effort. 

REINKALL SHINES AGAINST PITT: Junior college transfer Justin Reinkall was impressive in two appearances on the bump for EMU against Pittsburgh. He went 2.1 innings on Feb. 21, allowing just one hit while striking out two Panther batters. In his next appearance, Feb. 22, he was just as effective, going three complete innings while surrendering just one run. Reinkall did not allow a free pass in either appearance, and had the best ERA on the team of any Eagle who has tossed more than one inning (1.69).

MR. McWINNER: Junior right-hander Luke McGuire was outstanding for the Green and White in his season debut, Feb. 15, at Austin Peay. He came on in relief and pitched the final six innings of the contest, facing 26 batters and allowing just five hits along the way. He also added four strikeouts. The six-frame outing is the second-longest of his career, and earned him his sixth-career win. 

SIX STUDS: A slew of Eagles had great offensive production during a season-opening weekend in which the Green and White totaled 28 runs on 34 hits. After three games, six players were hitting with an average that is above .300. Senior Nick Jones led the team with a .462 mark, while junior Jared Kauffman (.400), redshirt juniors Drake Peggs (.364) and Jeff Timko (.357), sophomore Taylor Hopkins (.333), and junior Christian Bault (.333) followed behind with impressive numbers themselves. 

GRAND SALAMI: Junior captain Shane Easter had a first-career home run to remember, as his first long ball came in the form of a grand slam, Feb. 15. The Kalamazoo, Mich. native is the first Eagle to hit a grand slam since former Eagle Zachary Owings belted one against Concordia, March 28, 2019.  

16 RUN DAY: The Eagles used heavy hitting to notch its first season-opening victory since Feb. 17, 2017 against Missouri, Feb. 15, versus Austin Peay. EMU notched 16 runs on 16 total hits, and got offensive production from seven different players. The 16 runs in the game were the most by any EMU baseball team since May 7, 2016, vs. Ball State.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT HOPKINS?: Sophomore shortstop Taylor Hopkins opened the 2020 baseball campaign with a career-best game at Austin Peay, Feb. 15. The Mason, Ohio product finished the game with single-game career highs in hits (3), RBIs (6), and runs scored (4). He also had a career-high two home runs in the game, which both came at critical moments. Down two, 4-2, Hopkins tied the game with his first long ball. Tied again, 5-5, he gave EMU a three-run lead, 8-5, which propelled it to a 16-8 season-opening victory. 
    Hopkins continued his success through the rest of the series. The second-year standout notched five hits, and led the team in total bases (12), RBIs (7), slugging percentage (.800), and home runs (two). Prior to his two-HR game, he had hit just two out of the park in his career.
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