Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-12
Oakland
7-11
Baseball Falls in Home Opener, 5-4
3/22/2022 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
Shane Easter led the way for the Eagles with two RBIs and a run scored
Photo Gallery | Postgame Recap Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Despite picking up seven hits in the ballgame and out-hitting Oakland University, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team was unable to push across more runs, as the Eagles were defeated by the Golden Grizzlies, 5-4, Tuesday inside Oestrike Stadium.
Senior Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wisc.-Superior) (1-1) took the loss on the mound for Eastern Michigan (5-12). Sophomore Nick Chittum (Grosse Ile, Mich.-Grosse Ile) was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 4.2 shutout innings while allowing just two hits, and striking out three.
Classmate Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a walk and two RBIs. Freshman Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville-Garber) provided a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. Senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario- Leamington District (Parkland)) also chipped in, going 1-for-4 for EMU with an RBI.
How It Happened
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the first inning. Eastern Michigan's offense put up four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Easter. The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as Oakland scored four times over the remaining eight innings to grab the 5-4 win.
Game Notes
» The Eagles out-hit the Golden Grizzlies at a 7-6 clip. Additionally, Eastern Michigan went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position. Eastern has out-hit its opponents in nine contests this season, and holds a 5-4 record in those games. Meanwhile, the Eagles have yet to win a game when out-hitting the competition. The Green and White is 0-7 in those outings.
» Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 40 Oakland hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight. Furthermore, EMU's pitching staff limited Oakland to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
» Easter led the Eagles at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Additionally, it is Easter's third multi-RBI game of the season (2 at Winthrop, Feb. 18; 2 at Morehead State, March 5).
» Easter opened up the scoring for Eastern Michigan, belting a two-run RBI single to right field. The runs batted in were Easter's 12th and 13th of the 2022 campaign, respectively. That mark ranks Easter second on the squad in RBIs this season.
» The Eagles' bats got hot early, as Eastern Michigan's highest-scoring inning was the first when it pushed four runs across. Six members of the Green and White got on base in the first frame. The four scores mark the sixth time this season the Eagles have scored at least four-or-more runs in an inning.
» Junior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) took the ball to start for the Green and White. The right-hander made his first collegiate start, fanning three Oakland batters, and allowing four earned runs on just one hit in 2.1 innings of work.
» Chittum came in relief, pitching 4.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out three batters. The right-hander got the nod for the third time this season and it is the most innings he has pitched in an outing this season. The Grosse Ile, Mich. native's three-strikeout outing was the first time this season Chittum has recorded multiple strikeouts in a contest this season. It was the third such game of his career at Eastern, and first with multiple strikeouts since he picked up two in a game against Toledo, May 18, 2021.
» Reinkell finished the game on the bump for the Eagles, tallying two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. Additionally, the right-hander's two strikeouts tie a season-best in an outing (2 at Winthrop, Feb. 18).
» The Eastern Michigan pitching staff allowed just six hits on Tuesday. It is the sixth time this season EMU allowed six hits-or-fewer in a contest.
Up Next
The Eagles remain at Oestrike Stadium to host Mid-American Conference foe, the University of Akron, March 25-27, for a four-game series.
For updates on all things Eastern Michigan baseball, continue to check EMUEagles.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter, @EMU_Baseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brandon Decker (1-1)
L: Reinkall, Justin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Cam Post 1
RBI: Cam Post 1 ; Ian Cleary 1 ; Thomas Green 1
SF: Ian Cleary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gabe Lux 1 ; Brad Goulet 2 ; Brandon Nigh 1 ; Ian Cleary 1
SB: Brad Goulet 2 ; Brandon Nigh 2 ; Ian Cleary 1 ; Brenton Phillips 1
CS: Gabe Lux 1
Batting:
RBI: Easter, Shane 2 ; Warkentin, Daniel 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denton, Gabe 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Huebbe, Brady 1 ; Easter, Shane 1
CS: Rubner, Coltrane 1
HBP: Denton, Gabe 1 ; Huebbe, Brady 1
