Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 18
Oestrike Stadium
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
10-19, 6-14
2
vs
5
Ball State
21-11, 12-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
1
5
8
1
Eastern Michigan
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
6
1
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Baseball Splits Series, Falls in Final Game Against Ball State
4/18/2021 4:16:00 PM | Baseball
EMU hands Ball State its first non-winning series in MAC play
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University baseball split its four game series against Ball State University, dropping the series finale, 5-2, April 18, inside Oestrike Stadium. The loss drops the Green and White to 10-19 overall and 6-14 in Mid-American Conference play. Ball State improves to 21-11 overall and 12-4 in league play.
Getting the starting nod on the bump for EMU was senior southpaw Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard). Granzotto dominated the Cardinals, allowing just three hits and fanning three in six scoreless innings. The senior left hander has now posted back-to-back starts allowing one run or fewer.
The Eagles showed great patience at the plate, with five different players drawing a walk, including junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) who reached two times via the free pass. Seniors Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock), Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)), Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) and Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich-Saline) each collected a hit in the game, with Easter tallying team-best two knocks.
After Granzotto made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the first, the Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a Bault single that brought home Hopkins. Ball State looked to respond when it put two runners on in the top of the second inning, but senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) was able to make a slick catch on a line drive to third base to end the threat.
Ball State broke into the hit column in the top of the third inning with a one out double that reached the wall in left center. However, a strikeout and flyout to the warning track in center field would send the Green and White back to the plate looking to build on its one run advantage.
The Eagles went down in order over the next two innings, and the Cardinals looked to tie the game, putting runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Granzotto would get the next Ball State hitter to send a lazy fly ball out to right field, ending the attack and preserving the 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth.
Looking to add some insurance runs, the Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame. Changing pitchers proved to be a strong strategy for the Cardinals, as the new hurler got a strikeout and an impressive leaping catch on a liner to second base to end the inning, keeping the score at 1-0 in favor of the home team.
Unfortunately, that shift in momentum turned out to be a critical point in the game, as the Cardinals promptly loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning and took a 2-1 lead on a one out single to left field. The next Ball State hitter sent a fly ball to center, which plated another run, giving the visiting team a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) entered the game and got a groundout to end the inning.
A pinch hit, two-out double in the bottom of the seventh by Monahan gave the Eagles a solid chance to attempt a comeback. An intentional walk to Hopkins put runners on first and second, but the Green and White couldn't plate a runner and headed to the eighth inning still trailing by two, 3-1.
That deficit ultimately grew for EMU in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, as Ball State was able to add another pair of runs to go ahead, 5-1.
The Eagles attempted to get back in the game during their final at-bat of the game, collecting a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 5-2 in favor of Ball State. The comeback effort fell short, however, as the Cardinals closed out the game and claimed the road victory.
Eastern Michigan will stay in Ypsilanti for its next series, against the University of Toledo, which is set to begin Friday, April 23, inside Oestrike Stadium. The first of the four-game set is slated to begin at 6 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.
Getting the starting nod on the bump for EMU was senior southpaw Scott Granzotto (Northville, Mich.-Gabriel Richard). Granzotto dominated the Cardinals, allowing just three hits and fanning three in six scoreless innings. The senior left hander has now posted back-to-back starts allowing one run or fewer.
The Eagles showed great patience at the plate, with five different players drawing a walk, including junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) who reached two times via the free pass. Seniors Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview), Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock), Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)), Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) and Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich-Saline) each collected a hit in the game, with Easter tallying team-best two knocks.
After Granzotto made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the first, the Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a Bault single that brought home Hopkins. Ball State looked to respond when it put two runners on in the top of the second inning, but senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) was able to make a slick catch on a line drive to third base to end the threat.
Ball State broke into the hit column in the top of the third inning with a one out double that reached the wall in left center. However, a strikeout and flyout to the warning track in center field would send the Green and White back to the plate looking to build on its one run advantage.
The Eagles went down in order over the next two innings, and the Cardinals looked to tie the game, putting runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Granzotto would get the next Ball State hitter to send a lazy fly ball out to right field, ending the attack and preserving the 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth.
Looking to add some insurance runs, the Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame. Changing pitchers proved to be a strong strategy for the Cardinals, as the new hurler got a strikeout and an impressive leaping catch on a liner to second base to end the inning, keeping the score at 1-0 in favor of the home team.
Unfortunately, that shift in momentum turned out to be a critical point in the game, as the Cardinals promptly loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning and took a 2-1 lead on a one out single to left field. The next Ball State hitter sent a fly ball to center, which plated another run, giving the visiting team a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) entered the game and got a groundout to end the inning.
A pinch hit, two-out double in the bottom of the seventh by Monahan gave the Eagles a solid chance to attempt a comeback. An intentional walk to Hopkins put runners on first and second, but the Green and White couldn't plate a runner and headed to the eighth inning still trailing by two, 3-1.
That deficit ultimately grew for EMU in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, as Ball State was able to add another pair of runs to go ahead, 5-1.
The Eagles attempted to get back in the game during their final at-bat of the game, collecting a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 5-2 in favor of Ball State. The comeback effort fell short, however, as the Cardinals closed out the game and claimed the road victory.
Eastern Michigan will stay in Ypsilanti for its next series, against the University of Toledo, which is set to begin Friday, April 23, inside Oestrike Stadium. The first of the four-game set is slated to begin at 6 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: KLEIN, Sam (1-0)
L: Holt, John (0-1)
S: BAKER, John (3)
Batting:
2B: NAVARRO, Noah 1
HR: PELTIER, Ryan 1
RBI: NAVARRO, Noah 2 ; MESSINA, Ross 2 ; PELTIER, Ryan 1
SF: MESSINA, Ross 2
Base Running:
RUNS: TELLIER, Adam 2 ; PELTIER, Ryan 1 ; SEBBY, Chase 1 ; CONANT, Justin 1
SB: NAVARRO, Noah 1 ; SIMPSON, Aaron 1
CS: SIMPSON, Aaron 1
HBP: NAVARRO, Noah 1
Batting:
2B: Monahan, Mike 1 ; Kauffman, Jared 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Bault, Christian 1
SF: Hopkins, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Easter, Shane 1
CS: Easter, Shane 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
2b/rf
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballC/IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball1B
/ Baseball
IF
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