Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, May 28
Oestrike Stadium
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
21-27, 15-22
5
vs
4
Kent State
27-25, 20-17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Kent State
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
10
1
Eastern Michigan
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
2
5
6
0
Walkoff Home Run Pushes Eagles Past Golden Flashes in Series Opener
5/28/2021 8:00:00 PM | Baseball
Taylor Hopkins delivered EMU's first walkoff home run since the 2016 season
Video of the Walkoff.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Down, 4-3, heading to the bottom of the ninth, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team rallied to walk-off Mid-American Conference opponent Kent State University, 5-4, May 28 at Oestrike Stadium.
Junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) provided the late-game heroics, as his walkoff home run is the first for the Green and White since Mike Mioduszewski did so to defeat Northern Illinois, 3-2, May 15, 2016.
On the mound, senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) threw 6.0 strong innings, allowing just two runs and striking out three. Making way for sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), the righty picked up his second win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings and striking out two.
McGuire proved to be masterful in the first inning, needing just five pitches to retire the Golden Flashes in order to start the game. However, unable to do better themselves, the Eagles also went down in order in the first.
Kent State was the first to put runs on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning to take the 1-0 lead. After a double and single in the ensuing at-bats, the Golden Flashes doubled their lead, 2-0. Despite still having two runners in scoring position, McGuire was able to force KSU into a shallow groundout to Hopkins and get the strikeout to end the frame with Kent State holding the 2-0 lead.
Facing a similar jam in the top of the third, Kent State managed to load the bases, but a lineout to left field allowed the Eagles to escape the inning unscathed, with Kent State still holding the 2-0 advantage.
Eastern saw its first runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning, which began with a walk to freshman Evan Sines (Lancaster, Ohio-Lancaster). Two outs later, consecutive walks were dealt to senior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and senior Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)) to load the bases. Up to the challenge, junior Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich.-Clare (North Iowa)) drove the first pitch he saw through the left side of the infield which would plate a pair of runs, tying the game after the third inning, 2-2.
The Green and White's defense remained strong in the fourth and fifth innings, helping McGuire to three-up, three-down innings in back-to-back frames.
Hopkins started Eastern Michigan's lead-taking effort in the bottom of the fifth, when he was hit by the pitch. After stealing second base, Hopkins put himself in scoring position for Jones, who singled through the left side to put Eastern Michigan ahead, 3-2.
The seventh inning saw Wagoner on the mound. He retired the Golden Flashes in order in his first inning of work.
Kent State tied things up the following inning, scoring on a sac fly to center field and pull even, 3-3. KSU would proceed to take the lead back in the top of the ninth, adding a run for the 4-3 advantage.
Down to its final three outs, senior Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline) started the Eagles off with a single to get aboard, followed by a sacrifice bunt by senior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) that moved the pinch-running sophomore Anthony Sharkas (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) to second. Despite the Golden Flashes retiring the next two Green and White batters, Hopkins stepped to the plate, and lifted his 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for the walkoff home run, giving EMU the series-opening win, 5-4.
Eastern Michigan will continue its series with Kent State tomorrow, May 28, with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 3 p.m.
To stay up to date with all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Down, 4-3, heading to the bottom of the ninth, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team rallied to walk-off Mid-American Conference opponent Kent State University, 5-4, May 28 at Oestrike Stadium.
Junior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) provided the late-game heroics, as his walkoff home run is the first for the Green and White since Mike Mioduszewski did so to defeat Northern Illinois, 3-2, May 15, 2016.
On the mound, senior Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) threw 6.0 strong innings, allowing just two runs and striking out three. Making way for sophomore Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh), the righty picked up his second win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings and striking out two.
McGuire proved to be masterful in the first inning, needing just five pitches to retire the Golden Flashes in order to start the game. However, unable to do better themselves, the Eagles also went down in order in the first.
Kent State was the first to put runs on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning to take the 1-0 lead. After a double and single in the ensuing at-bats, the Golden Flashes doubled their lead, 2-0. Despite still having two runners in scoring position, McGuire was able to force KSU into a shallow groundout to Hopkins and get the strikeout to end the frame with Kent State holding the 2-0 lead.
Facing a similar jam in the top of the third, Kent State managed to load the bases, but a lineout to left field allowed the Eagles to escape the inning unscathed, with Kent State still holding the 2-0 advantage.
Eastern saw its first runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning, which began with a walk to freshman Evan Sines (Lancaster, Ohio-Lancaster). Two outs later, consecutive walks were dealt to senior Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) and senior Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller (Lincoln Trail)) to load the bases. Up to the challenge, junior Gabe Denton (Clare, Mich.-Clare (North Iowa)) drove the first pitch he saw through the left side of the infield which would plate a pair of runs, tying the game after the third inning, 2-2.
The Green and White's defense remained strong in the fourth and fifth innings, helping McGuire to three-up, three-down innings in back-to-back frames.
Hopkins started Eastern Michigan's lead-taking effort in the bottom of the fifth, when he was hit by the pitch. After stealing second base, Hopkins put himself in scoring position for Jones, who singled through the left side to put Eastern Michigan ahead, 3-2.
The seventh inning saw Wagoner on the mound. He retired the Golden Flashes in order in his first inning of work.
Kent State tied things up the following inning, scoring on a sac fly to center field and pull even, 3-3. KSU would proceed to take the lead back in the top of the ninth, adding a run for the 4-3 advantage.
Down to its final three outs, senior Mike Monahan (Saline, Mich.-Saline) started the Eagles off with a single to get aboard, followed by a sacrifice bunt by senior Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown Community) that moved the pinch-running sophomore Anthony Sharkas (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) to second. Despite the Golden Flashes retiring the next two Green and White batters, Hopkins stepped to the plate, and lifted his 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for the walkoff home run, giving EMU the series-opening win, 5-4.
Eastern Michigan will continue its series with Kent State tomorrow, May 28, with a pair of seven-inning games beginning at 3 p.m.
To stay up to date with all things EMU baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wagoner, Cameron (2-3)
L: KARTSONAS, JACK (2-5)
Batting:
2B: CAREW, BEN 1 ; KIRBY, JUSTIN 2 ; ELSEN, NICK 1
HR: McNAMARA, MICHAEL 1
RBI: CAREW, BEN 1 ; McNAMARA, MICHAEL 1 ; THOMPSON, SAM 2
SF: THOMPSON, SAM 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McNAMARA, MICHAEL 2 ; KIRBY, JUSTIN 1 ; WENTZ, ERIC 1
CS: CAREW, BEN 1 ; REIFSNYDER, JAKE 1
HBP: MATHEWS, COLLIN 1 ; REIFSNYDER, JAKE 1
Batting:
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 2 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Denton, Gabe 2
SH: Peggs, Drake 1 ; Jones, Nate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hopkins, Taylor 2 ; Jones, Nick 1 ; Sharkas, Anthony 1 ; Sines, Evan 1
SB: Hopkins, Taylor 1
HBP: Hopkins, Taylor 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
rf/lf
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ BaseballC/IF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballC/IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
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