Baseball Bests WMU, 7-4, in Series Opener

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team received contributions from every part of their lineup as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Eagles put seven runs on the board and knock off Western Michigan University, 7-4, Friday afternoon at Oestrike Stadium.

Senior Zach Fruit (Dundee, Mich.-Dundee ((Lansing C.C.)) (3-2) got the win for Eastern Michigan (9-13, 5-4 MAC). The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on six hits, allowing three walks, and striking out six.

Junior Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio.-Milford (Toledo)) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Senior Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson) furnished a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio.-Archbishop Moeller) was outstanding as well, going 2-for-4 for Eastern Michigan with two RBIs.

How It Happened
The Eagles got on the board immediately, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a two-run double off the bat of Gora and a two-run single from Hopkins.

The Broncos failed to push any runs across before the Eagles built on their lead in the fourth inning. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Kirk's two-out solo home run, which brought the score to 6-0 in favor of the Eagles.

Western Michigan narrowed Eastern Michigan's lead to 6-1 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 7-1 in the sixth inning. Western Michigan put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Eastern Michigan still held on for the 7-4 win.

Game Notes
» Fruit struck out six Broncos hitters and put together six innings of one-run ball for the Eagles. The outing ties a season-high for fewest earned runs (1 at Butler, March 19). Fruit also tied a season-high in strikeouts, fanning six batters in his second consecutive appearance (6 vs. Akron, March 25).
» For the seventh time this season, every Eagle in the batting order reached base safely. Only one player failed to tally a hit but reached base via bases on balls.
» Eastern Michigan's highest-scoring inning was the first when it pushed five runs across. It is the fifth time this season that the Green and White have recorded five-or-more runs in an inning. Additionally, the Eagles are 3-1 in contests where they score five-or-more runs in an inning. Furthermore, the five runs are the most scores EMU has tabbed in the first inning this season.
» Kirk led the Eagles at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. The dinger was the lefty's seventh of the season, ranking Kirk second on the squad in round-trippers on the year. The homer extends Kirk's hitting streak to five games.
» Senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District) finished 1-for-4 with a run scored. The base knock extends Warkentin's hitting streak to a team-best 11-games.
» Freshman Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) went 1-for-3 on Friday afternoon. The single extends Hugo's hitting streak to three games. Additionally, Hugo has totaled 10 hits in just nine games played for the Eagles.

Up Next
Eastern Michigan continues the four-game series with the Broncos with a doubleheader Saturday, April 2. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. All home games are free for all fans and will be streamed via Eagle All-Access.

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Team Stats

Taylor Hopkins

Matt Kirk

Daniel Warkentin

Shane Easter

Players Mentioned

Zach Fruit

Eli Gora

Taylor Hopkins

Logan Hugo

Matt Kirk

Daniel Warkentin

Players Mentioned

Zach Fruit

Eli Gora

Taylor Hopkins

Logan Hugo

Matt Kirk

Daniel Warkentin

Eastern Michigan Athletics