Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-2
Northern Kentucky
2-0
Baseball Drops 5-4 Heartbreaker to Northern Kentucky
2/18/2023 5:04:00 PM | Baseball
Taylor Hopkins blasted career home run No. 20 in the loss
Photo Gallery | Re-Watch the Game
HOOVER, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) -- One run in the bottom half of the seventh inning proved to be the game winner as the Northern Kentucky University baseball team came back to defeat Eastern Michigan University, 5-4, Feb.18, at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex in Hoover, Ala. Despite building a 4-0 lead after five complete innings, EMU was unable to hold on for the win.
Freshman hurler Sam Reed (Carmel, Ind.-Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) came out of the bullpen for Eastern Michigan (0-2, 0-0 MAC) and took the loss. The southpaw went 2.2 innings, giving up one run without giving up a hit.
Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and three RBIs. Sophomore Josh Kross (Brunswick,Ohio-Brunswick-Toledo) furnished a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk, recording his first collegiate hit. Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) also contributed, going 2-for-3 for Eastern Michigan.
How it Happened
The Eagles got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Miller came across to score the lone run of the inning for EMU.
The Norse failed to push any runs across before the Eagles built on their lead in the fifth inning. Eastern Michigan scored three more runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Hopkins, scoring Miller and Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillborough C.C.), which brought the Eagles lead to 4-0. The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as Northern Kentucky scored five times over the remaining four innings to grab the 5-4 win.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan has pushed one run across the board in the first inning in each of its contests this year. It is the first two-game stretch of the sort for Eastern Michigan since it did so in consecutive games against Bowling Green State University, May 1, 2022, and Northern Illinois University, May 7, 2022, respectively. EMU had played 11 games in that span. Additionally, it marks the first runs scored in consecutive first innings to open a season since the 2017 campaign when EMU scored in the first inning in three straight games, Feb. 17-18, against the University of Missouri, to begin the season in Fort Myers, Fla.
» Kross doubled to deep left field in the top of the second inning for what was his first collegiate knock. Kross is the only Eastern newcomer this season to record an extra-base hit.
» Senior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) got the ball as the starting pitcher for EMU in today's contest. The Howell, Mich. native went five scoreless innings to begin the contest, the longest stretch of scoreless innings by any EMU pitcher this season. Additionally, his five scoreless innings are tied for the most in his career after he hit the same mark against Ohio University, April 17, 2022. Additionally, Russo sat down nine consecutive NKU hitters between the second and fifth innings. That number is the most by any EMU hurler this year.
» Russo's 5.1 innings pitched go down as the second-longest outing of his career. His best outing was 6.0 IP, in the same game against Ohio, April 17, 2022. Today's game was the third in which he pitched at least 5.0 innings on the bump.
» Miller has proven dangerous once on the base-paths so far for the Green and White in the 2023 regular-season. With his run today, the senior infielder is tied for second in the MAC in total runs with three through the first two games. Miller also added a stolen base in today's contest, his first of the season and first since he swiped a bag against Kent State University, May 20, 2022. Miller now has five stolen bases as a member of the EMU baseball team.
» Hopkins sent a three-run homer over the right field wall in the fifth inning for the first home run of the 2023 regular-season. With the home run, Hopkins becomes the only Eagle so far this season to have back to back games with an RBI. Additionally, it was the first home run of the season for EMU, and the 20th career long ball for Hopkins.
» Miller also showed prowess at the plate Saturday afternoon. The Pentwater, Mich. native tallied two runs and two hits in the second game of the series versus NKU, making him the only Eagle to notch back to back games with both one run and one hit this season.
Historical Notes
» EMU is now 4-2 all-time against Northern Kentucky. The Green and White were 4-0 heading into this series, with two games each being played in both 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Up Next
EMU will close its three-game set against the Norse tomorrow, Feb. 19, beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Coverage begins at 11:45 a.m. CT on Eagle All-Access.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WERRMANN, Carson (1-0)
L: Reed, Sam (0-1)
S: KLINGENBECK, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Kross, Josh 1
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 2 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1
SB: Miller, Glenn 1
HBP: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kraft, Darren 1
Batting:
2B: VORHEES, Manny 1 ; LANE, Peyton 1
3B: FISHER, Noah 1
RBI: VORHEES, Manny 2 ; FISHER, Noah 1 ; McFADDEN-ACKMAN, Lia 1 ; SCHNEIDER, Adam 1
SH: MILLER, Bryce 1
SF: SCHNEIDER, Adam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MOSS, Treyvin 1 ; VORHEES, Manny 1 ; FISHER, Noah 1 ; ODOM, John 1 ; SCHNEIDER, Adam 1
SB: FISHER, Noah 1
