Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
16-21, 0
Toledo
18-20, 0
Russo Strikes Out Eight, Offense Scores Big in Tough Loss to Toledo
4/22/2023 6:53:00 PM | Baseball
Kirk went 4-for-5 with three RBIs; Wolff sets career high with six strikeouts
Re-Watch the Game.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com ) - Senior Luke Russo (Howell, Mich.-Howell) struck out eight University of Toledo hitters over 5.2 innings of work, but it was not enough as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team fell to the Rockets, 10-9, today, April 22, inside Oestrike Stadium.
In addition to his eight strikeouts, Russo (4-2) tossed 5.2 innings for Eastern Michigan (16-21, 6-14 MAC). Junior Dylan Wolff (Joliet, Ill.-Joliet West-Kankakee C.C.) also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing 3.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.
Graduate student Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 4-for-5 in the ballgame with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Junior Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, S.C.-Oceanside Collegiate Academy) put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a walk and four RBIs. Sophomore Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) also helped out, going 2-for-5 for Eastern Michigan with two doubles.
How it Happened
The Eagles were trailing 4-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Eastern Michigan scored twice, with one run coming across on Kirk's single.
The Eagles deficit grew to 5-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, taking over the lead in the fifth inning. Eastern Michigan got a grand slam from Kraft to score all four of their runs in the inning, which brought the score to 6-5 in favor of the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan's lead had disappeared once the sixth inning came around and turned into a 9-6 Toledo advantage, when the Eagles cut that deficit to 9-8. The Eagles added two to their tally on Kirk's two-run homer to right.
The Rockets expanded their lead to 10-8 before the Eastern Michigan offense got back in action, cutting into that lead in the eighth. The Eagles scored once on an RBI single off the bat of senior Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller), bringing the score to 10-9 in favor of Toledo. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
Game Notes
» Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio-Mohawk) doubled to deep left field in the bottom of the third inning for his first hit and extra-base-hit of his collegiate career.
» Hugo recorded two doubles in Saturday afternoon's contest, this marks the third time the outfielder has had multiple extra-base-hits in a single game in his career, with all three of these occurrences occurring in the 2023 season.
» Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Arbor) grounded out to second base in the third inning, sending Vance home for the 17th RBI of the season for the Pentwater, Mich. native.
» Kirk singled to right field, scoring Hugo, and marking the 27th RBI of the season for the graduate student. Kirk doubled off the right field wall in his next at-bat for his 17th two-bagger of the 2023 campaign, ranking best on the team and in the Mid-American Conference. The Milford, Ohio product sent a no doubter to right field in the sixth inning for his seventh homer of the season. Finishing with a 4-for-5 performance from the dish, Kirk recorded the fourth four hit day of his Eastern Michigan career. This marks the first four hit performance from any Eagle this season, and the first since Kirk also recorded four hits in a 10-4 victory over Northern Illinois University, May 8, 2022.
» Russo got the start today for his seventh start of the season. The 6-foot-4 right hander registered 5.2 innings pitched, allowing 10 hits while striking out eight Toledo batters. Finishing the game with eight punch outs, Russo has recorded five or more strikeouts in nine of his 13 appearances this season.
» Kraft chased the Rockets' bullpen with a grand slam to give the Eagles a 6-5 lead headed into the sixth inning. The grand slam was the sophomore's first of his career, and sixth home run of the season. Ending the day with four RBIs, the Mount Pleasant, S.C. native tied a career high. Kraft also drove in four in back-to-back games versus Miami University (April 9) and Western Michigan University (April 11). Lastly, today's home run gives Kraft six in his past 13 games.
» Wolff came into pitch for Russo in the top of the sixth inning. The Joliet, Ill. Native had a career day on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings and recording a career high with six strikeouts, doubling up his previous career high of three.
» Hopkins recorded an RBI in the game for Eastern Michigan. The RBI was his 36th of the season, he has played in 37 games this season, averaging almost 1 RBI per contest.
» The Eagles pitchers racked up another double-digit strikeout game today with 14 strikeouts as a team, bringing their total to 13 on the season. The Eagles also sat down 14 on March 10, 2023, in a 8-7 win over the Akron Zips.
» EMU amassed a total of 14 hits in Saturday afternoon's contest. Thus marks the 21st time the Green and White have eclipsed the double-digit mark in hits.
Historical Notes
» Saturday afternoon's contest marks the 172nd all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Toledo, with today's result, the Eagles hold a 100-72 record when facing the Rockets.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan and Toledo will play their series finale tomorrow, Sunday, April 23, at 1 p.m. at Oestrike Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PIJASZEK, Kyle (4-2)
L: Russo, Luke (4-2)
S: LEININGER, Nathan (1)
Batting:
2B: SYKES, Mason 1 ; FRY, Brian 1
HR: SYKES, Mason 1 ; JACKSON, Owen 1 ; WRIGHT, Trey 1
RBI: SYKES, Mason 3 ; JACKSON, Owen 3 ; WRIGHT, Trey 1 ; KONCZAK, Caden 1
SH: KONCZAK, Caden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS, Jeron 1 ; PIKE, Garret 1 ; SYKES, Mason 3 ; JACKSON, Owen 1 ; WRIGHT, Trey 1 ; SUDBROOK, Troy 1 ; FRY, Brian 2
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1 ; Hugo, Logan 2
HR: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kraft, Darren 1
RBI: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 3 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kraft, Darren 4
SH: Schroedle, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 3 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1 ; Kraft, Darren 1 ; Vance, Cooper 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
HBP: Kross, Josh 1 ; Hopkins, Taylor 1
