Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
16-24
Alma
9-21
Hopkins Homers Twice in Comerica Park as EMU Tops Alma, 5-1
4/27/2022 9:50:00 PM | Baseball
Chittum earned his first career win with career-high five strikeouts
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DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team topped Alma College 5-1, at Comerica Park Wednesday, April 27.
Sophomore Nick Chittum (Grosse Ile, Mich.-Grosse Ile) started on the mound for Eastern Michigan (16-24, 10-14 MAC), and earned his first career win while donning the Green and White. The right-hander pitched five shutout innings while giving up three hits, allowing three walks and striking out five.
At the plate, senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) went 3-for-4 at the plate with two-home runs, three RBIs, a single, and a stolen base. Junior Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford (Toledo)) chipped in for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Senior Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) went 2-for-3 (.667) added to Hopkins' awesome power-hitting performance by going 2-for-3 with an RBI along with one walk.
How It Happened
The Eagles got on the board first, starting in the third inning with a solo shot from Hopkins. Later in the inning, Kirk recorded an RBI single to bring home senior Eli Gora (Cincinnati, Ohio-Anderson).
The Scots failed to push any runs across as the Eagles built on their lead in the seventh inning. Eastern Michigan scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Hopkins, which brought the score to 5-0 in favor of the Eagles. Alma put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but EMU came out with the win, 5-1.
Game Notes
» Hopkins hit his fourth home run of the season, and 16th of his career, in the top of the third. Additionally, it's the senior's second homer in the last four games for the Eagles.
» Hopkins crushed a two-run shot, marking his second dinger of the contest, and second multi-homer game of his career. Eastern has seen a player record multiple home runs three times this season, most recently done by senior Brady Huebbe (Peru, Ill.-La Salle-Peru (Northern Illinois)) at Toledo, April 24.
» Hopkins finished the day 3-for-4 (.750) at the plate, tying his season-high in hits.
» Chittum recorded a career-high in five strikeouts, surpassing his game against Ohio, April 17, when he fanned four batters, in his first collegiate win.
» Kirk registered an RBI single in the top of the third, his team-leading 36th of the season. Additionally, the junior has recorded a hit in 10 of the last 11 games, totaling 16 in that span.
» Easter recorded two hits for his 11th multi-hit game of the season.
» Eastern Michigan's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Green and White took the lead at 2-0 in the top half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» EMU's pitchers limited Alma to just 1-for-11 (.091) with runners in scoring position.
Historical Notes
» The Eagles advance to 38-10 all-time against the Scots.
» Eastern is 1-1 at Comerica Park, having lost to Michigan State University, 3-2, May 11, 2016.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will host Bowling Green State University in a four-game set, inside Oestrike Stadium, April 29-May 1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chittum, Nick (1-1)
L: Jacob Wanous (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Miller, Glenn 1
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 2
RBI: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 2 ; Gora, Eli 1
SB: Hopkins, Taylor 1
CS: Easter, Shane 1
HBP: Gora, Eli 1
Batting:
RBI: Cooper Kauff 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dalton D'Ale 1
