Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, March 29
Kalamazoo, Mich.
12:05 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-9, 3-4
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Western Michigan
3-10, 3-4
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Eastern Michigan
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Western Michigan
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Eagles and Broncos Split Doubleheader
3/29/2021 5:19:00 PM | Baseball
Each took two games of the series
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team split Monday's doubleheader, series finale with Western Michigan University, March 29, at Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. The Broncos took the first game, 3-1, while the Eagles claimed victory in the second, 5-4, to finish 2-2 overall in the series.
With the win, Eastern (8-9, 4-4 MAC) remains at .500 in Mid-American Conference play. Western finishes the series 3-11 overall and 3-5 in league action.
Game One: Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1
A pair of two-out singles in the third and fifth innings from Western Michigan was enough to defeat Eastern Michigan, 3-1, in game one of the doubleheader, March 29.
Juniors Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) and Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)) led the way for Eastern on the mound and at the plate, respectively, with McGuire throwing 4.2 innings with one strikeout for the Green and White, while Bault had the lone RBI and run scored for EMU.
Seeing scoring opportunities early, Eastern found themselves with the bases loaded in both the first and second innings. After getting them juiced with two outs in the first, Western was able to strikeout the final Eagle batter to keep the Eagles quiet, while a lineout double play in the second inning with three on ended any Green and White scoring hopes.
McGuire fired two scoreless innings to start things off, forcing three flyouts on four pitches in the first inning, and allowing one hit and one walk in the second inning en route to keeping WMU off the board.
After a quiet top of the third for the Eagles, Western found the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame. After getting two quick outs to start, McGuire surrendered a walk, and the ensuing batter managed to knock a two-out single to left field that scored the first run of the day.
WMU struck again in the fifth inning, seeing a pair of runners cross the plate on another two-out single to left, sending the game into the sixth inning with the Broncos up, 3-0.
Bault provided a small spark for the Eagles in the sixth, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to put the Eagles on the scoreboard, 3-1.
Junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing)) returned to the mound for his first full inning of work in the bottom of the sixth, tossing a 1-2-3 inning to keep the Green and White in striking distance after six.
The Eagles were unable to put a man on base in the seventh and ultimately dropped the first game of the doubleheader to Western, 3-1.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 5, Western Michigan 4
Not letting the first game's offensive struggles deter them, the Eagles scored five to outlast Western Michigan, 5-4, in the second game of the afternoon.
Junior Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) picked up his first win of the season, going 4.0 innings and striking out two in the win. Sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) earned the save for his 3.0 innings of work.
Showcasing their plate discipline from the very start, Eastern batters stayed patient at the plate, and as a result, were awarded three consecutive walks to load the bases to begin the game. After a pitching change by Western, senior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) stepped to the plate, and sent a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the Eagles' first run of the contest. Shortly after, a fielder's choice by classmate Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) put runners on the corners for the Green and White. Soon after, both freshman Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) and Timko would score on a passed ball to give EMU the 3-0 advantage after the first half-inning.
The Broncos were not held off the scoreboard for long, as they responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.
Eastern added more runs to its lead in the top of the fourth. Beginning with a leadoff single from senior Eli Gora (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) drew the walk in the subsequent at-bat. A passed ball from the Broncos put both runners in scoring position for junior Will Oberg (Wayzata, Minn.-Wayzata (Heartand)), who launched a ground-rule double to center field to put the Eagles up, 5-1, after three and a half innings.
Once again responding to Eastern offense, Western managed to score a run in the bottom of the frame to pull back within three, 5-2.
After a scoreless fifth for both sides and nothing new for the Eagles in the top of the sixth, the Broncos attempted a comeback in the bottom half. A pair of hits plated two runs for Western, and made the score 5-4 after six complete.
Taking a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, Wagoner worked his way to two quick outs. After the Broncos grounded a single to third, Gora caught the runner trying to steal second two pitches later to end the game with the Eagles on top, 5-4.
Eastern Michigan will get to play at home for the first time since 2019 when it hosts Miami University Friday-Sunday, April 2-4, for an Easter weekend series. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. First pitch on Sunday will be at 1 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
With the win, Eastern (8-9, 4-4 MAC) remains at .500 in Mid-American Conference play. Western finishes the series 3-11 overall and 3-5 in league action.
Game One: Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1
A pair of two-out singles in the third and fifth innings from Western Michigan was enough to defeat Eastern Michigan, 3-1, in game one of the doubleheader, March 29.
Juniors Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) and Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)) led the way for Eastern on the mound and at the plate, respectively, with McGuire throwing 4.2 innings with one strikeout for the Green and White, while Bault had the lone RBI and run scored for EMU.
Seeing scoring opportunities early, Eastern found themselves with the bases loaded in both the first and second innings. After getting them juiced with two outs in the first, Western was able to strikeout the final Eagle batter to keep the Eagles quiet, while a lineout double play in the second inning with three on ended any Green and White scoring hopes.
McGuire fired two scoreless innings to start things off, forcing three flyouts on four pitches in the first inning, and allowing one hit and one walk in the second inning en route to keeping WMU off the board.
After a quiet top of the third for the Eagles, Western found the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame. After getting two quick outs to start, McGuire surrendered a walk, and the ensuing batter managed to knock a two-out single to left field that scored the first run of the day.
WMU struck again in the fifth inning, seeing a pair of runners cross the plate on another two-out single to left, sending the game into the sixth inning with the Broncos up, 3-0.
Bault provided a small spark for the Eagles in the sixth, launching a solo home run over the left field wall to put the Eagles on the scoreboard, 3-1.
Junior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee (Lansing)) returned to the mound for his first full inning of work in the bottom of the sixth, tossing a 1-2-3 inning to keep the Green and White in striking distance after six.
The Eagles were unable to put a man on base in the seventh and ultimately dropped the first game of the doubleheader to Western, 3-1.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 5, Western Michigan 4
Not letting the first game's offensive struggles deter them, the Eagles scored five to outlast Western Michigan, 5-4, in the second game of the afternoon.
Junior Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard) picked up his first win of the season, going 4.0 innings and striking out two in the win. Sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) earned the save for his 3.0 innings of work.
Showcasing their plate discipline from the very start, Eastern batters stayed patient at the plate, and as a result, were awarded three consecutive walks to load the bases to begin the game. After a pitching change by Western, senior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) stepped to the plate, and sent a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the Eagles' first run of the contest. Shortly after, a fielder's choice by classmate Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) put runners on the corners for the Green and White. Soon after, both freshman Mark Kattula (Sterling Heights, Mich.-Stevenson) and Timko would score on a passed ball to give EMU the 3-0 advantage after the first half-inning.
The Broncos were not held off the scoreboard for long, as they responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.
Eastern added more runs to its lead in the top of the fourth. Beginning with a leadoff single from senior Eli Gora (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern), junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) drew the walk in the subsequent at-bat. A passed ball from the Broncos put both runners in scoring position for junior Will Oberg (Wayzata, Minn.-Wayzata (Heartand)), who launched a ground-rule double to center field to put the Eagles up, 5-1, after three and a half innings.
Once again responding to Eastern offense, Western managed to score a run in the bottom of the frame to pull back within three, 5-2.
After a scoreless fifth for both sides and nothing new for the Eagles in the top of the sixth, the Broncos attempted a comeback in the bottom half. A pair of hits plated two runs for Western, and made the score 5-4 after six complete.
Taking a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh, Wagoner worked his way to two quick outs. After the Broncos grounded a single to third, Gora caught the runner trying to steal second two pitches later to end the game with the Eagles on top, 5-4.
Eastern Michigan will get to play at home for the first time since 2019 when it hosts Miami University Friday-Sunday, April 2-4, for an Easter weekend series. Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. First pitch on Sunday will be at 1 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Granzotto, Scott (1-0)
L: ARMBRUSTMACHER, DANE (0-3)
S: Wagoner, Cameron (2)
Batting:
2B: Oberg, Will 1
RBI: Oberg, Will 2 ; Jones, Nick 1
SH: Sharkas, Anthony 1
SF: Jones, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Oberg, Will 1 ; Kattula, Mark 1 ; Timko, Jeff 1 ; Gora, Eli 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
CS: Hopkins, Taylor 1
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Batting:
2B: MCINTYRE, JUSTIN 1 ; DOYLE, GAVIN 1
RBI: O'KEEFE, SEAN 1 ; DOYLE, GAVIN 1 ; HUNTLEY, MAX 1 ; SWINEHART, JOSH 1
SH: DOYLE, GAVIN 1 ; HUNTLEY, MAX 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ALLEN, JIMMY 1 ; DEVINE, DREW 1 ; CHARPING, CONNOR 2
CS: DUNN, BLAKE 1
HBP: DOYLE, GAVIN 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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3
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RBI
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AB
2
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
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