Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, February 28
Montgomery, Ala.
1 p.m. CT
Eastern Michigan University
2-0
4
at
3
Alabama State
1-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
4
7
0
Alabama State
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
3
10
1
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2020
Baseball Secures Best Start Since 2005 With Sweep of Alabama State
2/28/2021 4:59:00 PM | Baseball
Sophomore pitcher Cameron Wagoner earned his first win with best performance to date
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – Cue up Lee Osler's 1983 hit, "Back to Ypsilanti," because for the first time since 2005, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team has started the season 2-0. After winning its Opening Day affair against Alabama State, 2-1, Feb. 27, the team completed the two-game sweep of its opponent, 4-3, today, Feb. 28.
Eastern (2-0, 0-0 MAC), which led never trailed in yesterday's matchup, needed a come-from-behind strategy to pull off today's victory. Down, 3-2, after six, the Eagles were able to put up runs in back-to-back innings to first tie in the seventh, and eventually take the lead over the Hornets in the eighth inning, a lead which it maintained through the end of the contest.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by true freshman designated hitter Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson), who put together the best outing of any Eagle in the series as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and one run scored. Four additional Eagles added one hit apiece in the game. Overall, Kattula finished the weekend as the team-leader in hits (4), doubles (3), extra-base hits (3), and batting average (.571).
On the hill, sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) came on in relief to record a career day and pick up his first career win. Taking over at the start of the sixth inning, Wagoner tossed the game's final four frames to set a new personal-best in innings pitched. Dominant in every aspect, he allowed just three hits while walking no opposing batters. He also racked up a career-best five strikeouts. Wagoner took the ball from junior Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park), who turned in a solid first outing of the season as well. Meis went five innings and struck out four batters in the process.
The low-scoring nature of Saturday's series opener carried over into the beginning of the weekend's finisher, as both teams were kept off the board for the first two innings of play.
After going without a hit in the first inning, it was Kattula that provided Eastern's first knock of the day, a double to the fence that put him in scoring position with one out. That knock, the second extra-base hit of his weekend, was his team-leading second hit of the series to that point. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to get Kattula across the plate.
On the hill for the first time in 2021, Meis did his part to keep the opposition off the scoreboard. The third-year righty tossed two quick ground ball outs before Alabama State notched a single in its first plate appearance of the game. Meis, however, remained under control and got the Hornets' clean-up hitter to pop out just moments later, which ended the inning with no damage done. Meis followed the same pattern in the second inning, although this time, he traded the two ground outs for swinging strikeouts, his first two of the season, before finishing the half-inning two batters later via another ground ball out.
Scoreless through two, it was the Eagles that broke through for the game's first run in their half of the third. After reaching base via a fielder's choice, senior captain Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) stole second, his first swipe of the season and 18th of his career, and eventually moved to third when fellow senior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) reached on a throwing error. That allowed Eastern to display impressive base running as Jones took an extended lead off of first and successfully got ASU's pitcher to bite on a pick-off attempt. Although Jones was ultimately caught in the rundown between first and second, it gave Timko plenty of time to cruise home and put EMU on the board, 1-0.
Still on the hill, Meis brushed through the opposition's lineup in 1-2-3 fashion in the third.
Eastern's momentum continued in the fourth as it was able to add another run and double its lead, 2-0. Another Kattula hit gave way to senior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), who doubled off the left field fence to record his first hit and RBI of the season while giving EMU its second run of the day. The lone run was all Eastern was able to muster in that frame.
The bottom half of the fourth inning brought Meis his first real adversity of the day as Alabama State was able to put together a string of three consecutive one-out hits, including a two-run home run that tied the game, 2-2. The Steel City native rebounded with veteran poise, however, as he forced the Hornets into an inning-ending double-play and kept the score knotted at two apiece after four innings of play.
Meis surrendered one more run in his effort, which came in the fifth inning, his last. After giving up a one-out double, Alabama State's Jabronski Williams was able to find a gap and record an RBI-single that gave the Hornets their first lead of the series, 3-2, and the end of five.
With EMU unable to answer in the top of the sixth, Wagoner took the hill for his first appearance of the season. The 2019 22nd round Major League Baseball draft pick was impressive as he needed just one pitch to record his first out. Featuring a fastball that sits consistently in the mid-90s, Wagoner needed just four batters to get out of the inning unharmed.
Down, 3-2, in the top of the seventh, Eastern put together a string of gritty at-bats to get itself back in the ballgame. With two out and no one on base, junior Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich.-Clare (North Iowa)) lined his second hit of the series and started the Eagles' rally. Senior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) made the next contribution as he added a single, his second hit of the weekend, to put two on with two outs. From there, it was a walk and a hit-by-pitch that allowed Denton to cross the plate for the Green and White and tie the contest, 3-3.
Meanwhile, Wagoner kept dealing in his half of the frame as he faced the minimum in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game tied.
Back at the plate to start the eighth, Eastern continued to build on its momentum. Junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) got the bats going with a one-out single, his second of the series. Moments later, Kattula belted yet another double, his second of the day and third of the weekend (both team-bests), which brought Hopkins home and gave the Eagles the lead once again, 4-3. Although EMU couldn't add any more insurance in the frame, the lead was more than enough for Wagoner, who continued his dominance in his third frame of work to keep Alabama State off the board in the eighth.
With a one-run lead in hand, 4-3, Wagoner trotted back out for the bottom half of the ninth. Poised, he dusted the first two hitters he saw before relinquishing a two-out triple. After a quick mound meeting, the second-year hurler rebounded, as he forced a fly out to end the game and secure victory for the Eagles.
EMU will enjoy four days off before returning to action Friday, March 5, at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky. The game, which is set to begin at 2 p.m., is the first of a four-game set that will feature a doubleheader on Saturday, March 6, and a single-game finale on Sunday, March 7.
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.
Eastern (2-0, 0-0 MAC), which led never trailed in yesterday's matchup, needed a come-from-behind strategy to pull off today's victory. Down, 3-2, after six, the Eagles were able to put up runs in back-to-back innings to first tie in the seventh, and eventually take the lead over the Hornets in the eighth inning, a lead which it maintained through the end of the contest.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by true freshman designated hitter Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson), who put together the best outing of any Eagle in the series as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and one run scored. Four additional Eagles added one hit apiece in the game. Overall, Kattula finished the weekend as the team-leader in hits (4), doubles (3), extra-base hits (3), and batting average (.571).
On the hill, sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) came on in relief to record a career day and pick up his first career win. Taking over at the start of the sixth inning, Wagoner tossed the game's final four frames to set a new personal-best in innings pitched. Dominant in every aspect, he allowed just three hits while walking no opposing batters. He also racked up a career-best five strikeouts. Wagoner took the ball from junior Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park), who turned in a solid first outing of the season as well. Meis went five innings and struck out four batters in the process.
The low-scoring nature of Saturday's series opener carried over into the beginning of the weekend's finisher, as both teams were kept off the board for the first two innings of play.
After going without a hit in the first inning, it was Kattula that provided Eastern's first knock of the day, a double to the fence that put him in scoring position with one out. That knock, the second extra-base hit of his weekend, was his team-leading second hit of the series to that point. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to get Kattula across the plate.
On the hill for the first time in 2021, Meis did his part to keep the opposition off the scoreboard. The third-year righty tossed two quick ground ball outs before Alabama State notched a single in its first plate appearance of the game. Meis, however, remained under control and got the Hornets' clean-up hitter to pop out just moments later, which ended the inning with no damage done. Meis followed the same pattern in the second inning, although this time, he traded the two ground outs for swinging strikeouts, his first two of the season, before finishing the half-inning two batters later via another ground ball out.
Scoreless through two, it was the Eagles that broke through for the game's first run in their half of the third. After reaching base via a fielder's choice, senior captain Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) stole second, his first swipe of the season and 18th of his career, and eventually moved to third when fellow senior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) reached on a throwing error. That allowed Eastern to display impressive base running as Jones took an extended lead off of first and successfully got ASU's pitcher to bite on a pick-off attempt. Although Jones was ultimately caught in the rundown between first and second, it gave Timko plenty of time to cruise home and put EMU on the board, 1-0.
Still on the hill, Meis brushed through the opposition's lineup in 1-2-3 fashion in the third.
Eastern's momentum continued in the fourth as it was able to add another run and double its lead, 2-0. Another Kattula hit gave way to senior Nate Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), who doubled off the left field fence to record his first hit and RBI of the season while giving EMU its second run of the day. The lone run was all Eastern was able to muster in that frame.
The bottom half of the fourth inning brought Meis his first real adversity of the day as Alabama State was able to put together a string of three consecutive one-out hits, including a two-run home run that tied the game, 2-2. The Steel City native rebounded with veteran poise, however, as he forced the Hornets into an inning-ending double-play and kept the score knotted at two apiece after four innings of play.
Meis surrendered one more run in his effort, which came in the fifth inning, his last. After giving up a one-out double, Alabama State's Jabronski Williams was able to find a gap and record an RBI-single that gave the Hornets their first lead of the series, 3-2, and the end of five.
With EMU unable to answer in the top of the sixth, Wagoner took the hill for his first appearance of the season. The 2019 22nd round Major League Baseball draft pick was impressive as he needed just one pitch to record his first out. Featuring a fastball that sits consistently in the mid-90s, Wagoner needed just four batters to get out of the inning unharmed.
Down, 3-2, in the top of the seventh, Eastern put together a string of gritty at-bats to get itself back in the ballgame. With two out and no one on base, junior Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich.-Clare (North Iowa)) lined his second hit of the series and started the Eagles' rally. Senior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) made the next contribution as he added a single, his second hit of the weekend, to put two on with two outs. From there, it was a walk and a hit-by-pitch that allowed Denton to cross the plate for the Green and White and tie the contest, 3-3.
Meanwhile, Wagoner kept dealing in his half of the frame as he faced the minimum in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game tied.
Back at the plate to start the eighth, Eastern continued to build on its momentum. Junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) got the bats going with a one-out single, his second of the series. Moments later, Kattula belted yet another double, his second of the day and third of the weekend (both team-bests), which brought Hopkins home and gave the Eagles the lead once again, 4-3. Although EMU couldn't add any more insurance in the frame, the lead was more than enough for Wagoner, who continued his dominance in his third frame of work to keep Alabama State off the board in the eighth.
With a one-run lead in hand, 4-3, Wagoner trotted back out for the bottom half of the ninth. Poised, he dusted the first two hitters he saw before relinquishing a two-out triple. After a quick mound meeting, the second-year hurler rebounded, as he forced a fly out to end the game and secure victory for the Eagles.
EMU will enjoy four days off before returning to action Friday, March 5, at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky. The game, which is set to begin at 2 p.m., is the first of a four-game set that will feature a doubleheader on Saturday, March 6, and a single-game finale on Sunday, March 7.
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: Wagoner, Cameron (1-0)
L: Rivera, Ricardo (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Kattula, Mark 2 ; Jones, Nate 1
RBI: Jones, Nick 1 ; Kattula, Mark 1 ; Jones, Nate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Timko, Jeff 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kattula, Mark 1 ; Denton, Gabe 1
SB: Timko, Jeff 1
HBP: Jones, Nick 1 ; Bault, Christian 1
PO: Jones, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Francis, Dale 1 ; DeGuzman, Cristopher 1
3B: Espinal, Dilan 1
HR: Garcia, Santiago 1
RBI: Williams, Jabronski 1 ; Garcia, Santiago 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Lewis, Chris 1 ; Garcia, Santiago 1 ; DeGuzman, Cristopher 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/IF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
C/IF
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IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
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/ Baseball
RHP
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