Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
19-26, 0
Northern Illinois
10-33, 0
Baseball Drops Two on Saturday
5/7/2022 7:44:00 PM | Baseball
EMU completes its four-game series with the Huskies with a Sunday doubleheader
GAME 1 | Northern Illinois 9, Eastern Michigan 5
GAME 2 | Northern Illinois 12, Eastern Michigan 8
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball program fell in both contests to Northern Illinois University in a Saturday doubleheader, May 7, inside Ralph McKinzie Field.
In game one, senior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) (1-6) started and took the loss on the mound for Eastern Michigan (19-27, 13-17 MAC). Senior Justin Reinkall (Superior, Wis.-Superior (Southeast)) was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 4.1 shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking none, and striking out one.
Offensively, the Eagles were paced by senior Daniel Warkentin (Leamington, Ontario-Leamington District (Parkland)), who went 2-for-3 on the day with a walk and an RBI. Senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) also chipped in for Eastern Michigan, putting together one hit in one trip to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
In game two, sophomore Nick Chittum (Grosse Ile, Mich.-Grosse Ile) (1-2) took the loss on the mound for Eastern.
At the plate, the Eagles were led by freshman Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day (Nebraska)), who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double, a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Freshman Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Warkentin also helped out EMU, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk, and two RBI.
How It Happened - Game One
The Eagles got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Warkentin's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for Eastern Michigan.
The Huskies then tied the ballgame at two before the Eagles came back to reclaim their advantage in the second inning. EMU scored a run when Warkentin drew a walk that scored Easter, which brought the Eagles' lead to 3-2.
Eastern Michigan's lead had evaporated once the fourth inning arrived and turned into a 9-3 Northern Illinois advantage. The Eagles scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Hopkins.
The Green and White held the Huskies off the board before narrowing the gap further in the fifth. Junior Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford (Toledo)) crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the score to 9-5 in favor of Northern Illinois. Eastern was unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
Game Notes - Game One
» Eastern Michigan pitchers faced 31 Northern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out two.
» Warkentin led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. The second baseman now has 34 RBIs on the season.
» Reinkall's 4.1 IP of shutout baseball is the longest outing of the right-hander's collegiate career out of the bullpen.
» Kirk's hit in game one extended his hitting streak to 10 games, while Warkentin's pair of base knocks extended his streak to four games.
How It Happened - Game Two
The Eagles lost despite scoring in six different innings in the ballgame, last holding the lead in the seventh inning at 6-5. Eastern Michigan's biggest output came in its two-run fifth inning.
Game Notes - Game Two
» Eastern Michigan's power output was led by Dolney, who picked up two extra-base hits in the ballgame with a home run and a double.
» The round-tripper is Dolney's fifth of the 2022 campaign. Additionally, Dolney now has 14 extra-base hits on the year.
» Warkentin led the Eagles' offense with two RBIs. The Leamington, Ontario native now has 36 RBIs on the season, a mark that ranks third on the squad.
» Hugo also belted a solo homer for the Green and White in game two. The blast was Hugo's third of the season.
» Sophomore Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater (Spring Arbor)) stole two bases in Saturday's game, while the Eagles stole five bases as a team.
» Kirk added another RBI on Saturday. The outfielder currently leads the Eagles with 41 RBIs on the year.
Up Next
Eastern completes its four-game series with the Huskies with a Sunday doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT in DeKalb, Ill.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: SALOMONSON (3-2)
L: House, Thomas (1-6)
S: BONK (2)
Batting:
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Warkentin, Daniel 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Easter, Shane 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Warkentin, Daniel 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Easter, Shane 2
HBP: Gora, Eli 1 ; Easter, Shane 1
Batting:
2B: PETERS 1 ; COMBS 1
RBI: ARANDA 2 ; ERATO 1 ; PETERS 4
Base Running:
RUNS: ARANDA 2 ; BARNES 1 ; ERATO 1 ; JOHNSON 1 ; PETERS 1 ; COMBS 1 ; HARPER 1 ; KELLEY 1
