Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Montgomery, Ala.
6 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
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Alabama State
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Eastern Michigan
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Alabama State
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EMU Pitchers Shine in Season-Opening Win at Alabama State
2/27/2021 10:33:00 PM | Baseball
Senior Davis Feldman earned his second straight Opening Day win
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – For the second time in as many years, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team opened its season with an impressive victory, this year defeating Alabama State University, 2-1, in a non-conference affair played in the Heart of Dixie tonight, Feb. 27.
With the win, Eastern (1-0, 0-0 MAC) has started consecutive seasons on the right side of the record ledger, after it defeated Austin Peay, 16-8, in the 2020 opener, Feb. 15. It is the first back-to-back season-opening wins for Eastern since the 2016 and 2017 seasons, respectively. Additionally, Eastern's one run allowed is the lowest Opening Day total since it blanked Tennessee, 5-0, on Feb. 22, 2002.
Eastern got production at the plate from a slew of players as four different Eagles combined to collect the team's four total hits. In terms of production, it was senior clean-up hitter Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trails)), and junior outfielder Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich-Clare (North Iowa)), who entered the game as a pinch hitter, that led the charge. Each collected one RBI in the outing.
Defensively, senior hurler Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice) shined in the games initial innings. Back on the mound for just the seventh time in three seasons, the right-handed captain cruised through the Hornet lineup en route to five innings of scoreless baseball that featured five strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The five strikeouts are the most in a game for Feldman since he sat down the same number in a Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal outing against Central Michigan on May 27, 2017. His effort was good enough to earn him his second straight season-opening win, and his fifth overall as an Eagle.
Feldman gave way to fellow senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson), who was equally as impressive. The fourth-year Eagle went three strong for the Green and White and allowed just one run on three hits while dusting two batters. The EMU pitching staff combined to allow just five hits, while walking three and striking out nine.
If 356 days away from the diamond can teach a team anything, it is patience, and EMU certainly showed it in its first trip to the plate in 2021. The Eagles put their first three men aboard, all via walks, which brought Bault to the plate with a green light. Bault was able to deliver as he poked a ground ball up the middle to record his first RBI of the season. Although he was ultimately put out at first, the fielder's choice was good enough to bring senior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) home for EMU's first run of the game, which gave Eastern the early edge, 1-0.
With early run support, it was Feldman that took the bump as Eastern's Opening Day starter. The Warren, Mich. native, who has made just six starts in the past two seasons due to injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, looked sharp out of the gate. After surrendering a lead-off single, Feldman settled in. He jammed Alabama State's No. 2 hitter into a fielder's choice ground out before senior catcher Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) threw a dart to third on an attempted steal to record his first put out of young season. Jones finished his night having caught two attempted base stealers. Feldman needed just one more batter to retire the Hornets' in the first as he forced another easy groundout to the shortstop.
The two teams traded quick half innings in their respective second trips to the plate. EMU got its leadoff man on, but he was eventually picked off in a rundown between first and second before ASU retired the next pair of Eagles at the plate. Back to work in the bottom half of the second for Eastern, Feldman kept rolling. He retired the side in order in the form of a fly out and two swinging strikeouts.
While Feldman continued to dominate at his craft, his teammates were met by strong opposing pitching as well. Eastern was blanked in four straight at-bats between the second and fifth innings, respectively, before breaking through for much-needed insurance in the sixth frame.
At the plate with one on and one out in the sixth, junior shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) singled to right field, his first hit of the season, which advanced teammate, senior Daniel Warkentin (Lamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) to third base. In his second career at-bat with the Eagles, Denton came through in the clutch, as he notched a liner up the middle to deliver his first RBI of the season and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
After his five impressive innings, Feldman gave way to McGuire in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Although he gave up a leadoff double to begin his first outing since March 7, 2020, at Cincinnati, McGuire settled in nicely in the ensuring at-bats. Alabama State was able to muster it first run of the series in the frame, but McGuire stopped the scoring threat in time to preserve Eastern's advantage, 2-1, after six.
Back on the bump in the seventh with the score differential still at one run, 2-1, McGuire was dominant. Although ASU led off the inning with a single, it was a small bump in the otherwise flawless frame. McGuire's impressive placement forced the Hornets into a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play to clear the paths and put two outs on the board. From there, McGuire handled business by himself, as he dusted his next opponent looking. Like many good things in life, McGuire got better with age, or in this case, every inning he tossed. He made quick work of the home team in the eighth as he breezed through three consecutive Hornets to take his team to the ninth inning, still up one, 2-1.
Although the Eagles were able to get two runners aboard in their half of the nine, they were unable to cross the plate with any insurance runs for right-handed pitcher, junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)), who took the mound as the closer in the bottom of the ninth.
Fruit took advantage of his first outing with the Green and White. After walking the first batter he faced, the Dundee, Mich. product bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts, both of the swinging variety. Dialed in, he needed just one more batter to seal the game as he forced the final Hornet hitter of the night into a routine, 6-3 grounder, which gave Eastern the win, 2-1.
The Eagles will be back on the diamond tomorrow in hopes of securing their first 2-0 start to a season since they bested South Florida in consecutive games to begin the 2005 campaign. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com and continue to follow the team on social media, at @EMU_Baseball.
With the win, Eastern (1-0, 0-0 MAC) has started consecutive seasons on the right side of the record ledger, after it defeated Austin Peay, 16-8, in the 2020 opener, Feb. 15. It is the first back-to-back season-opening wins for Eastern since the 2016 and 2017 seasons, respectively. Additionally, Eastern's one run allowed is the lowest Opening Day total since it blanked Tennessee, 5-0, on Feb. 22, 2002.
Eastern got production at the plate from a slew of players as four different Eagles combined to collect the team's four total hits. In terms of production, it was senior clean-up hitter Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trails)), and junior outfielder Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich-Clare (North Iowa)), who entered the game as a pinch hitter, that led the charge. Each collected one RBI in the outing.
Defensively, senior hurler Davis Feldman (Warren, Mich.-Brother Rice) shined in the games initial innings. Back on the mound for just the seventh time in three seasons, the right-handed captain cruised through the Hornet lineup en route to five innings of scoreless baseball that featured five strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The five strikeouts are the most in a game for Feldman since he sat down the same number in a Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinal outing against Central Michigan on May 27, 2017. His effort was good enough to earn him his second straight season-opening win, and his fifth overall as an Eagle.
Feldman gave way to fellow senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson), who was equally as impressive. The fourth-year Eagle went three strong for the Green and White and allowed just one run on three hits while dusting two batters. The EMU pitching staff combined to allow just five hits, while walking three and striking out nine.
If 356 days away from the diamond can teach a team anything, it is patience, and EMU certainly showed it in its first trip to the plate in 2021. The Eagles put their first three men aboard, all via walks, which brought Bault to the plate with a green light. Bault was able to deliver as he poked a ground ball up the middle to record his first RBI of the season. Although he was ultimately put out at first, the fielder's choice was good enough to bring senior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) home for EMU's first run of the game, which gave Eastern the early edge, 1-0.
With early run support, it was Feldman that took the bump as Eastern's Opening Day starter. The Warren, Mich. native, who has made just six starts in the past two seasons due to injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, looked sharp out of the gate. After surrendering a lead-off single, Feldman settled in. He jammed Alabama State's No. 2 hitter into a fielder's choice ground out before senior catcher Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) threw a dart to third on an attempted steal to record his first put out of young season. Jones finished his night having caught two attempted base stealers. Feldman needed just one more batter to retire the Hornets' in the first as he forced another easy groundout to the shortstop.
The two teams traded quick half innings in their respective second trips to the plate. EMU got its leadoff man on, but he was eventually picked off in a rundown between first and second before ASU retired the next pair of Eagles at the plate. Back to work in the bottom half of the second for Eastern, Feldman kept rolling. He retired the side in order in the form of a fly out and two swinging strikeouts.
While Feldman continued to dominate at his craft, his teammates were met by strong opposing pitching as well. Eastern was blanked in four straight at-bats between the second and fifth innings, respectively, before breaking through for much-needed insurance in the sixth frame.
At the plate with one on and one out in the sixth, junior shortstop Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) singled to right field, his first hit of the season, which advanced teammate, senior Daniel Warkentin (Lamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) to third base. In his second career at-bat with the Eagles, Denton came through in the clutch, as he notched a liner up the middle to deliver his first RBI of the season and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
After his five impressive innings, Feldman gave way to McGuire in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Although he gave up a leadoff double to begin his first outing since March 7, 2020, at Cincinnati, McGuire settled in nicely in the ensuring at-bats. Alabama State was able to muster it first run of the series in the frame, but McGuire stopped the scoring threat in time to preserve Eastern's advantage, 2-1, after six.
Back on the bump in the seventh with the score differential still at one run, 2-1, McGuire was dominant. Although ASU led off the inning with a single, it was a small bump in the otherwise flawless frame. McGuire's impressive placement forced the Hornets into a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play to clear the paths and put two outs on the board. From there, McGuire handled business by himself, as he dusted his next opponent looking. Like many good things in life, McGuire got better with age, or in this case, every inning he tossed. He made quick work of the home team in the eighth as he breezed through three consecutive Hornets to take his team to the ninth inning, still up one, 2-1.
Although the Eagles were able to get two runners aboard in their half of the nine, they were unable to cross the plate with any insurance runs for right-handed pitcher, junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)), who took the mound as the closer in the bottom of the ninth.
Fruit took advantage of his first outing with the Green and White. After walking the first batter he faced, the Dundee, Mich. product bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts, both of the swinging variety. Dialed in, he needed just one more batter to seal the game as he forced the final Hornet hitter of the night into a routine, 6-3 grounder, which gave Eastern the win, 2-1.
The Eagles will be back on the diamond tomorrow in hopes of securing their first 2-0 start to a season since they bested South Florida in consecutive games to begin the 2005 campaign. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com and continue to follow the team on social media, at @EMU_Baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Feldman, Davis (1-0)
L: Guzman, Jacknell (0-1)
S: Fruit, Zach (1)
Batting:
2B: Kattula, Mark 1
RBI: Bault, Christian 1 ; Denton, Gabe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Warkentin, Daniel 1
HBP: Warkentin, Daniel 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
Batting:
2B: DeGuzman, Cristopher 1
RBI: Williams, Jabronski 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeGuzman, Cristopher 1
CS: Hearn, Cameron 1 ; Williams, Jabronski 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
ph/rf
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ BaseballC/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
C/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
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OF
/ Baseball
IF
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