Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
21-31, 0
Central Michigan
36-15, 0
Baseball Honors Seniors; Drops Series Finale Against CMU
5/15/2022 4:19:00 PM | Baseball
Senior Matt Kirk belts his 15th homer, tied for the MAC lead and team-high
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Re-Watch the Game.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team dropped its final home game of the season, 8-3, to Central Michigan University Sunday afternoon, May 15, inside Oestrike Stadium.
Despite the loss, it was a special day at the park, especially for nine seniors that donned the Script E for the final time. After a pregame ceremony that included a senior jersey presentation and processions with family, the mothers of each senior were invited to toss out a ceremonial first pitch. More celebrations ensued in the postgame, where players, staffers, and family members of each of the seniors joined together for a dinner that included a presentation from Head Coach Eric Roof, as well as each senior student-athlete. Players shared memories, gave advice to those who will remain with the program, and offered their sentiments as their collegiate careers draw closer to their respective finales.
In game action, senior Zach Fruit (Dundee, MIch.-Dundee) (4-5) got the ball to start for EMU (21-31, 15-21 MAC) and took the loss. Senior Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior) was a bright spot for the Eagles, coming out of the bullpen and throwing five innings, giving up two runs, all earned, on four hits, with no walks, and two strikeouts.
Kirk's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-5 day, and included a double, a home run and an RBI. Senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Freshman Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day) also chipped in for the Eagles, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
How It Happened
Trailing 2-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the third inning. Eastern Michigan scored two runs on solo shots from Kirk and Dolney.
The Chippewas broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the ninth inning, when the Eagles got back on the scoreboard. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Hopkins' leadoff home run off of senior Jake Jones, which tightened the Chippewas lead to 8-3. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
Game Notes
» The Eagles took Central Michigan pitchers deep three times on Sunday. Eastern Michigan has hit 76 home runs in 52 games this season. That number equates to a 1.46 home runs per game average. Eastern has not had a season with a home runs per game average better than 1.0 since 2009, when the Eagles belted 100 total homers, a 1.67 per game average.
» Eastern Michigan pitchers limited Central Michigan to just 2-for-10 (.200) with runners in scoring position. The staff faced 44 Central Michigan hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» Eastern Michigan's power output was led by Kirk, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame, including his 15th home run of the season. His 15 round-trippers not only is tied for the team lead (Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)) - 15), but is also tied for the Mid-American Conference lead.
» Hopkins lifted his seventh homer of the 2022 season for the Eagles. The shortstop now has 29 RBIs. Those two marks are both fifth-highest on the squad this season.
» Hopkins' home run marks the Mason, Ohio native's fifth consecutive game with a hit, a hitting streak that is the best current streak on the team.
» Dolney also powered his seventh home run of the season Sunday. The utility player now has 24 total RBIs on the season.
» Reinkall's 5.0 IP is the longest outing of the right-hander's collegiate career out of the bullpen for the Eagles.
Historical Notes
» With a base hit in the eighth inning, senior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) tallied his 100th career hit donning the Green and White. Kauffman joins Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) and Brady Huebbe (Peru, Ill.-La Salle-Peru (Northern Illinois)) as the only player to surpass the milestone this season.
Up Next
Eastern will complete its regular-season slate with a four-game series versus Kent State, May 19-21.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: NAVARRA, Garrett (6-0)
L: Fruit, Zach (4-5)
Batting:
2B: SIMPSON, Justin 1 ; LECHNIR, Drew 1
HR: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1 ; PROCTOR, Adam 1
RBI: CAMILLETTI, Mario 3 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1 ; LECHNIR, Drew 1 ; SHEPARDSON, Aidan 1 ; PROCTOR, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1 ; SIMPSON, Justin 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 2 ; SHEPARDSON, Aidan 1 ; DARDAS, Nick 1 ; PROCTOR, Adam 2
HBP: WUESTENFELD, Danny 1 ; SHEPARDSON, Aidan 1
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Matt 1
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1
SB: Huebbe, Brady 1 ; Easter, Shane 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
