Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
16-15, 6-10
Bowling Green
11-19, 6-10
EMU Responds From Eighth-Inning Deficit to Defeat Bowling Green, 8-6
4/14/2023 6:13:00 PM | Baseball
Hugo notches career high in home runs, Hopkins and Kross with three hits each
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team responded from down 6-5 in the eighth inning to win in exciting fashion, tallying three runs in the ninth to secure an 8-6 victory over the Bowling Green State University Falcons Friday, April 14, at Steller Field.
Junior Jagger Jefferies (Barnesville, Ohio-Barnesville-Brynat & Stratton C.C.) (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Eastern Michigan (16-15, 6-10 MAC). The left-hander went two innings, and allowed just three hits. Senior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, starting the ball game and throwing six innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits, and adding six strikeouts.
At the plate, the Eagles were paced by sophomore Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber), who went 2-for-4 on the day with two home runs and three RBIs. Senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio.-Archbishop Moeller) put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) also chipped in for Eastern Michigan, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
How it Happened
Trailing 3-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the second inning. Eastern Michigan scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Hugo.
The Falcons then scored one run to retake their advantage heading into the fourth inning, when the Eagles responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Eastern Michigan picked up a run on Miller's leadoff home run off of senior Gage Schenk, which evened the score at 4-4.
That 4-4 tie turned into a 5-4 Eastern Michigan lead in the sixth. The Eagles notched a run on Hugo's one-out solo home run off Schenk.
Eastern Michigan lost the lead they built in the sixth, but got back on the board in the ninth trailing 6-5. A run-scoring single from junior Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, S.C.-Oceanside Collegiate Academy) put the finishing touches on a three-run frame for the Eagles, bringing the score to 8-6 in favor of Eastern Michigan. The score remained 8-6 for the rest of the game, as the Eagles held on for the win.
Game Notes
» Hugo kick started the Eastern Michigan offense Friday afternoon with a two-run home run to center field in the top of the second inning, for his third homer of the season and seventh of his career. The second-year outfielder built on his previous at-bat when he crushed his second homer of the day, this time a solo shot to left field. Hugo ended the day with two home runs and three RBIs, the former being a career high for the Essexville, Mich. native. The sophomore has tallied a home run in two of his last three games, the strongest display of power in his collegiate career.
» Hopkins extended the Eagles bountiful second inning with a two-out RBI double to score Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo). With the RBI, Hopkins joins Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio-Brunswick-Toledo) as the only Eagles to reach the 30 RBI mark thus far in the 2023 campaign.
» Miller homered in the top of the fourth inning for his third long ball of the season. The Pentwater, Mich. product has shown substantial improvement in his power at the plate this season as he has the first multi-home run season of his collegiate career under his belt. Miller did not hit a home run with the Eagles last season and hit one in his 2021 season with Spring Arbor University.
» The heart of the Eastern Michigan batting order was active in Friday afternoon's contest as Kirk, Kross, and Hopkins each tallied two hits for the Green and White. For Kross, it was his team-high 16th multi-hit performance of the season, followed up by Kirk with his 14th today, with Hopkins rounding out the top three as he captured his 12th multi-hit game of the 2023 regular-season.
» Hopkins and Kross came up clutch for the eagles in the top of the ninth inning with RBI singles from each of them. For Hopkins it was his 30th RBI of the season, and Kross' 36th, tying the Brunswick, Ohio native for second highest in the Mid-American Conference. Finishing the day with two RBIs, Hopkins earned his seventh multi-RBI outing of the season. With their singles in the ninth, Kross and Hopkins notched their seventh and fifth three-hit game this season, respectively.
» The Eagles outhit the Falcons 13-7 in Friday afternoon's win, marking the 15th time Eastern has accomplished the feat this season. The Eagles are 10-5 in those games. Additionally, Eastern Michigan hit three homers today, marking the 13th time they have done so this season. Today's win gives them a 10-3 record when they hit two or more home runs.
» Coming in to relieve Thomas House in the bottom of the seventh inning, Jefferis gave up three hits and two earned runs en route to the first win of his Eastern Michigan career.
» Senior left hander Trevor House (Okeana, Ohio-Ross) came in to relieve Jefferis in the bottom of the ninth inning. House proceeded to allow no runs and no hits while striking out one Bowling Green batter. The performance earned House his first save of the 2023 season.
» Miller and Kirk each scored two runs in Friday afternoon's win. The two of them currently share the team lead in runs with 29 each on the season. Their 29 runs places them tied for 10th highest in the MAC.
Historical Notes
» Friday afternoon's contest marked the 186th all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green, with today's result, the Eagles now hold a 111-75 record when facing the Falcons.
» If Eastern Michigan can pick up a win tomorrow, it would secure the Green and White's 12th consecutive series victory over Bowling Green. EMU has not lost a series to BGSU since the 2005 season.
Up Next
The Eagles and Falcons will conclude their three-game series tomorrow, Saturday, April 15 in double header action. The first game is set to begin at noon, and can be streamed on ESPN3, with the second game getting underway at 3:30 p.m. Also, you can follow @EMU_Baseball on Twitter for live in-game updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jefferis, Jagger (1-0)
L: Seidel,Isaiah (0-2)
S: House, Trevor (1)
Batting:
2B: Hopkins, Taylor 1
HR: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Hugo, Logan 2
RBI: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 2 ; Kraft, Darren 1 ; Hugo, Logan 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 2 ; Kirk, Matt 2 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Lux, Ryan 1 ; Hugo, Logan 2
SB: Hopkins, Taylor 2 ; Kraft, Darren 1
CS: Kraft, Darren 1
Batting:
2B: Seidel, Sam 1
HR: Gurney,Kyle 1
RBI: Gurney,Kyle 1 ; Rose,Nathan 2 ; Ross,Tyler 1
SF: Rose,Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Newman, Dj 1 ; Gurney,Kyle 1 ; Seidel, Sam 3 ; Archer,Nathan 1
SB: Newman, Dj 1 ; Seidel, Sam 3 ; Ross,Tyler 1 ; Ganun,Gavin 1
HBP: Seidel, Sam 1 ; Ross,Tyler 1
