Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-4
Towson
2-7
Baseball Erases Four-Run Deficit to Earn 11-10 Win at Towson
3/3/2023 2:20:00 PM | Baseball
Taylor Hopkins blasts homer No. 21, records four RBIs in the win
TOWSON, Md. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team fought back from a 7-3 deficit, scoring eight runs in the fifth-seventh innings, respectively, en route to an 11-10, comeback win over Towson University today, March 3, inside Schuerholz Park.
The win moved Eastern (3-4, 0-0 MAC) within one game of an even ledger on the young season, while Towson (2-7, 0-0 CAA) dropped its first game in three attempts after entering the day following a pair of victories.
Senior Tyler Helgeson (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for EMU. The right-hander went four innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out two.
In the batter's box, the Eagles were paced by senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), who went 2-for-5 on the day with a home run and four RBIs. Sophomore Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) also chipped in for Eastern Michigan, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and a triple to his already lofty resume this season.
How it Happened
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Eastern Michigan scored three times, picking up one on an RBI base knock off the bat of senior Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.).
The Eagles lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fifth trailing 7-3. Eastern Michigan scored twice on Hopkins' two-run homer, which brought the score to 7-5 in favor of the Tigers.
Eastern Michigan held the Tigers off the scoreboard before narrowing the gap to 7-6 in the sixth. The Eagles added a run on Hugo's two-out solo home run off sophomore Max Simpson.
The Eagles scored five runs in the seventh inning to retake the lead for the first time since the second frame. The inning was highlighted by a one-run single off the bat of junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville), bringing the Eastern Michigan advantage to 11-7. Towson put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 11-10 win.
Game Notes
» The Eagles executed their first double-steal attempt of the 2023 season in the top half of the first inning this morning. Dolney nabbed second while Hopkins made a successful dash for home plate. This marks the first time EMU has stolen home plate this season. The play was duplicated in the seventh inning when Cole Wilcox (Shiocton, Wis.-Shiocton) and Dolney stole second base and home plate, respectively, bringing the season total in stolen bags up to 15. EMU's steal total is at 15 in just seven games. Last season, it took the Green and White 19 games to hit that mark.
» Kirk drilled a triple to right-center field in the top of the first inning to set up what would be a three-run inning for the Green and White. Eventually being driven home by Hopkins, Kirk's triple marks the first three-bagger of the season for EMU and the first of Kirk's collegiate career.
» Hopkins finished the day with two hits, including one home run, along with four RBIs, three runs, and a stolen base. The four RBIs are good for the second most in Hopkins' career, and tie his season-high as the graduate student also drove in four in a 13-9 win versus Northern Kentucky, Feb.19. Additionally, the Mason, Ohio native's three runs mark a season high for Hopkins' and also makes him the second Eagle, along with Kirk, to score three runs in a game this season.
» EMU scored five runs in the seventh inning, giving them an 11-7 edge headed in the latter half of the frame. This marks the third time this season EMU has scored five in one inning. The Eagles notched five runs in the seventh and eighth inning against NKU in a 13-9 comeback win, Feb. 19.
» Hugo homered in the sixth inning to bring the Green and White within one run (7-6). The homer marks the first of the 2023 season and the seventh of his career.. Last season, it took Hugo 28 games to clear the fences for the first time. Today's homer came in just the seventh game of the 2023 campaign.
» EMU drilled a season-high 11 hits in the 11-10 victory. The total was the most in a game for EMU since it notched 18 hits against Kent State to close out the 2022 season, May 21. Eastern Michigan has had a 10 hits or more in a game 87 times in Eric Roof's tenure as head coach (2018-Pres.), and have won 51 of those contests
» With Kirk's triple in the first inning and double in the eighth, he became the only EMU batter to record both a triple and two-bagger in the same game since Dolney notched one of each in a 6-5 loss to Kent State, May 19, 2022.
» Helgeson had his best relief performance of the season. After being inserted into the game in the third, the senior pitched four innings allowing just one earned run, striking out two, and not walking a single Towson batter, along with being credited the win. The victory gives Helgeson a 1-0 record and moves his overall career ledger to 3-1. It was his first positive decision since May 8, 2022, when he earned a win over Northern Illinois University.
Historical Notes
» Today's contest marks the first clash between Eastern Michigan and Towson. With the Green and White's 11-10 comeback win, they take the all-time series edge at 1-0.
» Eastern Michigan eliminated a four-run, 7-3, deficit in today's game en route to the victory. It is the first time EMU has come back from a deficit of four runs or more in a game since it fell behind, 5-1, in the series finale against Northern Kentucky, Feb. 18, before picking up a 13-9 victory.
Up Next
The Eagles will return to action and look to make it two wins in-a-row in doubleheader action as they are slated to take on Towson at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. tomorrow, March 3. The games will be broadcasted on FloSports.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Helgeson, Tyler (1-0)
L: Jordan Peyton (0-1)
S: Russo, Luke (1)
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Matt 1
3B: Kirk, Matt 1
HR: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
RBI: Hopkins, Taylor 4 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 2 ; Kirk, Matt 2 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 3 ; Dolney, Aaron 1 ; Wilcox, Cole 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
SB: Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 2 ; Wilcox, Cole 1
CS: Miller, Glenn 1
HBP: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 2
PO: Taylor, Cory 1
Batting:
2B: Casey Bishop 1 ; Jeremy Wagner 1
HR: James Moses 1 ; Casey Bishop 1 ; Bryce Frederick 1
RBI: James Moses 1 ; Casey Bishop 4 ; Brian Heckelman 1 ; Bryce Frederick 2 ; Jack Lawrence 1
Base Running:
RUNS: James Moses 2 ; Casey Bishop 3 ; Brian Heckelman 1 ; Bryce Frederick 1 ; Jeremy Wagner 2 ; Elijah Dickerson 1
HBP: Elijah Dickerson 1
