Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
7-4, 0
Akron
4-8, 0
Baseball Rallies, Secures Fifth Straight Victory with 8-7 win at Akron
3/10/2023 5:19:00 PM | Baseball
Russo moves to 2-0 after solid relief effort; four Eagles tally multiple hits
AKRON, Ohio. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team fought back from a 6-5, seventh inning deficit, to beat the University of Akron Zips, 8-7, today, March 10, inside Skeeles Stadium.
With today's victory, Eastern (7-4, 1-0 MAC) picked up its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season, and secured its fifth straight win overall. It is the first five-game win streak for the program since May 1-11, 2021, when the Green and White won eight straight against a trio of teams (St. Bonaventure - 2, Bowling Green - 4, Toledo - 2) during that stretch. Akron (4-8, 0-1 MAC) dropped to four games under the .500 mark with its loss.
Senior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) (2-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Eastern Michigan. The right hander went 3.2 innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on three hits, allowing two walks and striking out six.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by sophomore Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio.-Brunswick-Toledo), who went 2-for-5 on the day with a double, a home run and two RBIs. Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBIs. Junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville) also contributed for Eastern Michigan, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
How it Happened
The Eagles scored in seven different innings on the way to victory. After holding the lead two different times earlier in the ballgame, Eastern Michigan broke a 6-6 tie and took the lead for good at 7-6 in the eighth inning. The key hit in the two run frame for the Eagles was an RBI-double from Miller.
Game Notes
» Kross and Taylor got the scoring started today for the Eagles, as they both sent a ball over the fences in their first at-bats, respectively. The homers go down as both Kross' and Taylor's second of the season. Additionally, Kross and Taylor join Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) as the only Eagles to homer in their first at-bat of a game this season. Kirk homered in his first at-bat in a 13-9 victory over Northern Kentucky University, Feb. 19 and did it again in the first game of a double header versus Towson University, March 4.
» Cole Wilcox (Shiocton, Wisc.-Shiocton-Lake County) continues to display his consistent extra-base-power early in the 2023 campaign as the former Lake County outfielder rocketed a double to double to left field, eventually being scored by Miller. With his two-bagger in today's contest, Wilcox became the only EMU batter this season with an extra-base-hit in three straight games and the first to do it since Kirk had five total extra-base-hits in a three-game span April 16-19, 2022.
» With his homer and RBIs today, Kross is now tied for tops on the EMU team in homers (2) and RBIs (14)
» With his two RBIs today, Miller has now notched multiple RBIs in back-to-back games, the first time the senior has done so in his Eastern Michigan career.
» Eastern Michigan pitching was hunting for strikeouts today as the pitching staff sat down 14 Akron batters via strikeout. This is the most strikeouts as a team in one single game since the Eagles punched out 17 batters in a 12-7 victory over Miami University, April 11, 2022.
» Dolney was a defensive anchor behind the plate today for the Eagles. The Detroit Country Day alum notched 15 putouts defensively for EMU today, the most of the 2023 season and second most in Dolney's career as the catcher tabbed 17 putouts in a 12-7 win over Miami, April 11, 2022.
» After coming in for relief in the bottom half of the sixth inning, Russo allowed just three hits, giving up two runs, striking out four and being credited with the win. This makes Russo 5-0 in his last six games where he has been credited with a decision.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan scored consistently today as they managed to push across at least one run in five straight innings. This marks the first time EMU has scored in five consecutive innings since they notched at least one run from the second through sixth innings in a 8-5 win over Akron March 26, 2022.
» Eastern Michigan won its fifth consecutive game today. It is the first five-game win streak for the program since May 1-11, 2021, when the Green and White won eight straight against a trio of teams (St. Bonaventure - 2, Bowling Green - 4, Toledo - 2) during that stretch.
» EMU is 1-0 in MAC play for the first time since 2021. That season, it opened its league ledger with a 9-2 win over the Zips, March 19.
Up Next
Game two versus the Akron Zips will take place tomorrow, March 11 with the first pitch slated for 2:05 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on gozips.com/watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russo, Luke (3-0)
L: DIETRICH, B. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Wilcox, Cole 1
HR: Kross, Josh 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1
RBI: Miller, Glenn 2 ; Kross, Josh 2 ; Milene, Logan 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Wilcox, Cole 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kross, Josh 2 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Wilcox, Cole 1 ; Taylor, Cory 2
SB: Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Milene, Logan 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
HBP: Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Milene, Logan 1
PO: Hopkins, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: POIST, J. 1 ; PENNINGTON 1
HR: FIRESTONE, J 1
RBI: POIST, J. 1 ; HARA, K. 1 ; FIRESTONE, J 1 ; SEEKER, S. 3 ; HORVATH, A 1
Base Running:
RUNS: POIST, J. 1 ; FIRESTONE, J 1 ; ARRIVO, N. 2 ; SCHIMONY, E. 1 ; SEEKER, S. 2
CS: HARA, K. 1 ; JENKINS, C. 1
HBP: FIRESTONE, J 1 ; ARRIVO, N. 1 ; JENKINS, C. 1
