Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 21
Akron, Ohio
11 a.m.
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Three-Run 11th Lifts Baseball Over Akron, 8-6
3/21/2021 3:02:00 PM | Baseball
EMU racked up a season-best 15 hits
Photo Gallery.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – In one of the most exciting games of its young season, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team pulled off an incredible 8-6, extra-inning, Mid-American Conference victory over the University of Akron today, March 21.
The win moves Eastern (6-7, 2-2 MAC) to .500 in league play and earns it the series split with Akron (7-3, 2-2 MAC).
Tied, 5-5, in the top half of the 11th inning, senior Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) stepped to the plate with two on and one out. Dialed in, he carried an outside pitch to deep right field that dropped for an RBI, go-ahead double. Not done yet, the Eastern offense took advantage of timely walks and a wild pitch to add another pair of runs and take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the 11th.
With a three-run, 8-5 lead in hand, senior hurler Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast Community)) took the hill and handled the rest. Although Akron was able to cross the plate one time in its final at-bat, Reinkall shut the Zips down before they could mount a comeback, and secured Eastern's 8-6 victory.
Five Eagles got time on the mound as senior Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) earned the start and went 3.0 innings. The southpaw allowed two runs on five hits while recording a strikeout along the way. He gave way to sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), who authored an outstanding 4.2-inning performance that included five strikeouts (tied season-high). Although Wagoner was charged with three runs, he left the game having only surrendered one. Junior transfer Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)) also got to work for the Green and White, before sophomore Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) and Reinkall finished out the game.
Offensively, the trio of Gora, and fellow seniors Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) and Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), each tallied three hits. Gora was the star, however, as he delivered a team-best two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the 11th. In total, seven hitters combined for a team-high 15 hits, four more than Eastern's previous best of 11, at Bellarmine, March 7.
Just four total runs were exchanged during the game's first four innings, with each team able to cross the plate twice.
The visiting Eagles were the first to find success at the plate as they scored a pair of runs in the top half of the second inning. After a leadoff single and wild pitch allowed Jones to get to second base, Timko was able to find a gap between the pitcher and shortstop, which gave him just enough time to get to first and record an infield single. With runners on the corners and no outs, it was Gora that came through. He delivered his second knock of the series, an RBI-single through the left side, to put Eastern ahead, 1-0. From there, EMU was able to take advantage of an Akron error as Timko crossed the plate to make it 2-0.
After working out of a first-inning jam that saw runners on second and third with one out, Granzotto bounced back with an impressive second frame. Although the Zips added two hits, it was no problem for the fourth-year lefty, as he kept the home team off the board to preserve EMU's lead, 2-0.
Following a scoreless top of the third, Akron did find offensive success in its third trip to the plate. A leadoff home run sparked what ended a two-run frame for the Zips. Still, Granzotto was able to end the threat with the game tied, 2-2, before handing the ball to Wagoner in the fourth.
A scoreless fourth inning for both sides put EMU back in the batter's box, still tied, to begin the fifth frame. Already in the midst of an impressive offensive series, Hopkins added yet another long ball to his list, this time a solo shot that reestablished Eastern's advantage, 3-2. The home run moves Hopkins into a tie for the team lead with three this season. Unfortunately, it was the only momentum EMU was able to find in the frame.
After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Wagoner returned to the mound in the fifth and delivered a perfect 1-2-3 frame that included two strikeouts. Still with a one-run lead, 3-2, Wagoner faced adversity in the sixth. A leadoff single by the Zips followed by an advancement on a ground ball out put a runner at second with only one down. Akron took advantage with a double down the left field line, which tied the game at three runs with only one out. With a runner at third and two down, Wagoner was able to recover and keep the score at three-all.
With the score still knotted, 3-3, after seven, EMU's offense broke through in the eighth. After senior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) started the frame with a single, fellow senior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) followed suit with a single of his own. An error by Akron during the play gave Eastern a great scoring opportunity, one it took advantage of, as Peggs came all the way around to score and gave Eastern the lead, 4-3. With Kauffman on third, sophomore Tyler Helgeson (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) successfully lifted a SAC fly into right field, which gave him his first RBI of his career and extended EMU's lead to a pair, 5-3.
Back out for the bottom of the eighth, Wagoner was again challenged by the Zips. After a leadoff walk was followed by a hit batter, the home team had runners on first and second with no outs. A SAC bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Poised as ever, Wagoner came through yet again, as he jammed the next Zip hitter into a groundout that came back to the mound. That out signaled the end of Wagoner's impressive day, as he gave way to Fruit with two outs in the eighth. Fruit walked the first batter he faced, which loaded the bases, before giving up a two-RBI double to right field. That blow tied the game, 5-5.
With the score still locked after nine complete innings, the two teams took to extra frames and continued to exchange pitching blows. It wasn't until the 11th that Eastern broke through for its go-ahead runs, which ultimately proved enough to secure the win in Sunday's series finale, 8-6.
Eastern returns to action Friday, March 26, for the start of a four-game slate against in-state rival Western Michigan University. Games two and three will take place on Saturday, March 27, before the series comes to a close Sunday, March 28, in Kalamazoo.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMU_Baseball.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – In one of the most exciting games of its young season, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team pulled off an incredible 8-6, extra-inning, Mid-American Conference victory over the University of Akron today, March 21.
The win moves Eastern (6-7, 2-2 MAC) to .500 in league play and earns it the series split with Akron (7-3, 2-2 MAC).
Tied, 5-5, in the top half of the 11th inning, senior Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) stepped to the plate with two on and one out. Dialed in, he carried an outside pitch to deep right field that dropped for an RBI, go-ahead double. Not done yet, the Eastern offense took advantage of timely walks and a wild pitch to add another pair of runs and take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the 11th.
With a three-run, 8-5 lead in hand, senior hurler Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wisc.-Superior (Southeast Community)) took the hill and handled the rest. Although Akron was able to cross the plate one time in its final at-bat, Reinkall shut the Zips down before they could mount a comeback, and secured Eastern's 8-6 victory.
Five Eagles got time on the mound as senior Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) earned the start and went 3.0 innings. The southpaw allowed two runs on five hits while recording a strikeout along the way. He gave way to sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), who authored an outstanding 4.2-inning performance that included five strikeouts (tied season-high). Although Wagoner was charged with three runs, he left the game having only surrendered one. Junior transfer Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing C.C.)) also got to work for the Green and White, before sophomore Thomas House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) and Reinkall finished out the game.
Offensively, the trio of Gora, and fellow seniors Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) and Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), each tallied three hits. Gora was the star, however, as he delivered a team-best two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the 11th. In total, seven hitters combined for a team-high 15 hits, four more than Eastern's previous best of 11, at Bellarmine, March 7.
Just four total runs were exchanged during the game's first four innings, with each team able to cross the plate twice.
The visiting Eagles were the first to find success at the plate as they scored a pair of runs in the top half of the second inning. After a leadoff single and wild pitch allowed Jones to get to second base, Timko was able to find a gap between the pitcher and shortstop, which gave him just enough time to get to first and record an infield single. With runners on the corners and no outs, it was Gora that came through. He delivered his second knock of the series, an RBI-single through the left side, to put Eastern ahead, 1-0. From there, EMU was able to take advantage of an Akron error as Timko crossed the plate to make it 2-0.
After working out of a first-inning jam that saw runners on second and third with one out, Granzotto bounced back with an impressive second frame. Although the Zips added two hits, it was no problem for the fourth-year lefty, as he kept the home team off the board to preserve EMU's lead, 2-0.
Following a scoreless top of the third, Akron did find offensive success in its third trip to the plate. A leadoff home run sparked what ended a two-run frame for the Zips. Still, Granzotto was able to end the threat with the game tied, 2-2, before handing the ball to Wagoner in the fourth.
A scoreless fourth inning for both sides put EMU back in the batter's box, still tied, to begin the fifth frame. Already in the midst of an impressive offensive series, Hopkins added yet another long ball to his list, this time a solo shot that reestablished Eastern's advantage, 3-2. The home run moves Hopkins into a tie for the team lead with three this season. Unfortunately, it was the only momentum EMU was able to find in the frame.
After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, Wagoner returned to the mound in the fifth and delivered a perfect 1-2-3 frame that included two strikeouts. Still with a one-run lead, 3-2, Wagoner faced adversity in the sixth. A leadoff single by the Zips followed by an advancement on a ground ball out put a runner at second with only one down. Akron took advantage with a double down the left field line, which tied the game at three runs with only one out. With a runner at third and two down, Wagoner was able to recover and keep the score at three-all.
With the score still knotted, 3-3, after seven, EMU's offense broke through in the eighth. After senior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) started the frame with a single, fellow senior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) followed suit with a single of his own. An error by Akron during the play gave Eastern a great scoring opportunity, one it took advantage of, as Peggs came all the way around to score and gave Eastern the lead, 4-3. With Kauffman on third, sophomore Tyler Helgeson (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) successfully lifted a SAC fly into right field, which gave him his first RBI of his career and extended EMU's lead to a pair, 5-3.
Back out for the bottom of the eighth, Wagoner was again challenged by the Zips. After a leadoff walk was followed by a hit batter, the home team had runners on first and second with no outs. A SAC bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Poised as ever, Wagoner came through yet again, as he jammed the next Zip hitter into a groundout that came back to the mound. That out signaled the end of Wagoner's impressive day, as he gave way to Fruit with two outs in the eighth. Fruit walked the first batter he faced, which loaded the bases, before giving up a two-RBI double to right field. That blow tied the game, 5-5.
With the score still locked after nine complete innings, the two teams took to extra frames and continued to exchange pitching blows. It wasn't until the 11th that Eastern broke through for its go-ahead runs, which ultimately proved enough to secure the win in Sunday's series finale, 8-6.
Eastern returns to action Friday, March 26, for the start of a four-game slate against in-state rival Western Michigan University. Games two and three will take place on Saturday, March 27, before the series comes to a close Sunday, March 28, in Kalamazoo.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU baseball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMU_Baseball.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: House, Trevor (0-0)
L: RADTKA, Matthew (0-0)
S: Reinkall, Justin (0)
Batting:
2B: Gora, Eli 1
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Gora, Eli 2 ; Kauffman, Jared 1 ; Helgeson, Tyler 1
SH: Jones, Nick 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
SF: Helgeson, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Jones, Nick 2 ; Timko, Jeff 2 ; Gora, Eli 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
HBP: Oberg, Will 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: BARR, Justin 1 ; SHELLENBARGER, B. 1
HR: BARR, Justin 1
RBI: BARR, Justin 3 ; REINHART, Jerry 1 ; SHELLENBARGER, B. 1
SH: GOULET, Bradley 1 ; TREVINO, Dominick 1
SF: REINHART, Jerry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BARR, Justin 1 ; GRANGER, Zac 2 ; TILLY, Cameron 1 ; REINHART, Jerry 2
SB: REGAN, Connor 1
HBP: TILLY, Cameron 2 ; REINHART, Jerry 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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IF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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IF
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RHP
/ BaseballOF
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RHP
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