Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
11-11, 4-6
Ohio
8-14, 6-4
Eastern Michigan drops hard-fought game 7-6 to Ohio despite late lead
4/1/2023 8:10:00 PM | Baseball
Dolney Homers Twice in Setback
ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team took a 6-3 lead into the seventh inning, but could not hang on and fell 7-6 to the Ohio University Bobcats Saturday, April 1 inside Bob Wren Stadium located in Athens, Ohio.
Thomas House (Ross, Ohio, Ross) was a bright spot for the Eastern Michigan (11-11, 4-6 MAC), starting the ballgame and throwing 5.2 innings, giving up three runs, zero earned, on six hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. Colin Sells (1-0) earned the win for the Bobcats (8-14, 6-4 MAC) while Zach Gillig (Valley Center, Kan.-Valley Center-Friends University-Partt C.C.) (0-1) came out of the bullpen ultimately taking the loss.
Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with two home runs, a walk and two RBI's. Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif-University Prep-Crown College) compiled a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI's. Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio.-Brunswick-Toledo) also helped out, going 2-for-5 for Eastern Michigan with a double.
How it Happened
The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) came across to score the lone run of the inning for Eastern Michigan to get them on the board.
The Eagles then held the Bobcats scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Dolney's two-out solo home run off of Ohio's Luke Olson, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan held Ohio without a run before building their lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning. The Eagles scored three times, with a showing that included back-to-back homers from Schroedle and Dolney.
The Bobcats fought back, closing the gap to 5-1 until Eastern Michigan added some insurance in the sixth. Ryan Lux (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the score to 6-1 in favor of Eastern Michigan. The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as Ohio scored six times over the remaining three innings to grab the 7-6 win.
Game Notes
» Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio.-Archbishop Moeller) got the Eagles started on the offensive side with a sacrifice hit to the shortstop which would score Kross. The RBI goes down as Hopkins' 23rd on the season, good for second best for the Eagles squad behind Kross' 25.
» After a slow start to the season, Dolney saw an offensive explosion at the dish Saturday afternoon. The senior catcher homered twice in the game, once in the second and then again in the fourth inning, respectively. With both dingers being solo shots, Dolney's homerun total is now up to three for the 2023 campaign. Today's performance marks the first time the Plymouth, Mich. native has gone deep twice in the same game in his Eastern Michigan career. With his two homers, Dolney notched his third multi-hit game of the 2023 season.
» Schroedle went yard for the second time this season with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring Hopkins. The Crown College transfer now has a homer in consecutive games for the first time in his EMU career, and two long-balls overall for the 2023 regular-season.
» Kross doubled to right-field in the top-half of the first inning. This marks Kross' seventh double on the season, ranking second for the Green and White behind Kirk (12). The Brunswick, Ohio. Native finished the day with two hits, marking his eighth multi-hit game of the 2023 season and adds on to his team high in multi-hit games with 11.
» Lux knocked a lead-off double in the top of the sixth inning to get the Eagles started en route to tallying one run in the sixth. The double is Lux's first of the 2023 season, and the second overall extra-base-hit on the 2023 campaign.
» Miller continued his career year at the dish Saturday evening when he put the ball in play in the top of the sixth inning to score Lux. The RBI marked millers tenth of the season, making this season the first in his EMU career where he has reached double digit RBI's.
» With two homers from Dolney and one from Schroedle, the Eagles have hit three home runs in back-to back games, as the Green and White sent three over the wall in their previous game, a 7-5 decision over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, March 28. This marks the first time the Eagles have notched consecutive three homerun games in the Head Coach Eric Roof era (2018-pres.)
Historical Notes
» Schroelde and Dolney's back-to-back homers in the top-half of the fourth mark the first time EMU has hit consecutive homeruns since Dolney and Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) both went deep in back-to-back at bats in an 8-3 loss to Central Michigan University, May 15, 2022.
» Saturday evening's contest marked the 60 overall meeting between the Bobcats and Eagles. After today's game, the eagles have a 28-32 record when facing Ohio.
Up Next
The Eagles will wrap their series against the Bobcats in doubleheader action tomorrow, April 2. The start times are currently TBD. Once decided, the times for Sunday afternoon's doubleheader will be tweeted out on the @EMU_Baseball account.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: C. Sells (1-0)
L: Gillig, Zach (0-1)
S: B. Kelly (2)
Batting:
2B: Kross, Josh 1 ; Lux, Ryan 1
HR: Schroedle, Kyle 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 2
RBI: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Schroedle, Kyle 2 ; Dolney, Aaron 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Lux, Ryan 1 ; Schroedle, Kyle 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 2
SB: Dolney, Aaron 1
CS: Hopkins, Taylor 1
HBP: Miller, Glenn 1
Batting:
2B: C. Williams 1
3B: C. Williams 1
RBI: A. Rausch 1 ; A. Patino 1 ; C. Williams 2 ; G. Antle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: M. Minzey 1 ; C. Kasperbau 1 ; C. Williams 2 ; G. Antle 2 ; A. Finney 1
SB: A. Rausch 3
CS: A. Patino 1
HBP: W. Sturek 1
