Baseball Starts Weekend Series With 9-4 Win at Niagara

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University baseball team took a 4-0 lead in the second inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 9-4, non-conference victory against the Niagara University Purple Eagles Friday, April 28.

Senior Thomas House (Ross, Ohio-Ross) (2-3) got the win for Eastern Michigan (19-21, 7-14 MAC). The right-hander went five innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out six. Senior Zach Gillig (Valley Center, Kan.-Valley Center-Pratt C.C.) also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out two.

Graduate student Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-6 in the ballgame with a triple, a home run and three RBIs. Senior Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. Senior Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich.-Pentwater-Spring Abor) also contributed, going 2-for-4 for Eastern Michigan with a double, a walk and an RBI.

How it Happened
The Eagles put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Eastern Michigan hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring four runs.

The Purple Eagles then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 4-3 until the Eagles expanded their advantage in the fifth. Eastern Michigan picked up two runs in the frame, the big hit being an RBI double from senior Blake McRae (Armada, Mich.-Romeo-Lansing C.C.), which brought the score to 6-3 in favor of the Eagles.

Niagara narrowed Eastern Michigan's lead to 6-4 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 9-4 in the seventh inning. The score remained 9-4 for the rest of the game, as Eastern Michigan coasted to the win.

Game Notes
» Dolney put the Eagles on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to right field. Giving EMU the early 1-0 edge, the home run is Dolney's eighth of the 2023 season. The 6-foot-4 catcher flied out to right field in the top of the fifth, marking his 31st RBI of the season, and his ninth multi-RBI outing of the 2023 campaign.
» Kirk continued Eastern's profitable second inning with a three-run blast to right field, scoring Miller and Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio-Mohawk). Kirk's second-inning homer brings his total to 10 long balls and 40 RBIs for the 2023 campaign.
» Miller doubled down the left field line during Eastern's four run second frame. The Pentwater, Mich. product now has 12 two-baggers on the season, placing him second on the team behind Kirk (18). The third baseman laid down a beautiful bunt in the seventh inning, scoring the third base runner while managing to reach first base. The senior finished the day with two hits for the 12th time this season.
» Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) churned out another multi-hit performance. Finishing the day 2-for-4 from the dish, it was Hopkins' 15th multi-hit outing of the season.
» McRae doubled down the left field line in the top half of the fifth inning for the second double in his Eastern Michigan career, and third overall extra-base-hit. The double sent Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, S.C.-Oceanside Collegiate Academy) home, marking McRae's fifth RBI of his EMU career.
» Vance reached base in all but one of his plate appearances in Friday afternoon's contest (single, walk, hit by pitch, single, strikeout). The New Waterford, Ohio native also stole three bags throughout the contest, one in the fifth and two in the seventh inning, respectively. This marks the first stolen bags of Vance's collegiate career while also being his first game with multiple hits (2), stolen bases (3), and runs (2). Lastly, Vance's three bags swiped in today's contest are the most stolen bases by an individual player in a single game for the Green and White this season. The last Eagle to steal three bases in a single game was Brady Huebbe versus the University of Akron Zips, March 26, 2022.
» Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich.-Essexville Garber) hit a sacrifice fly out to right field in the top of the seventh inning to score Dolney. Hugo's RBI total is now up to 18. The center fielder also stole second base in the ninth inning for his fifth stolen bag of the 2023 season.
» Eastern Michigan exploded for four runs in the second inning, marking the 26th time they have done so this season. Furthermore, the Eagles are 13-4 this season when recording an inning of four runs or more.
» The Green and White tallied double-digit hits for the 25th time this season. With today's win, the Eagles are 16-9 in games with double-digit knocks.
» Eastern Michigan only allowed four runs in the win over the Purple Eagles. The Eagles snapped a streak of allowing five or more runs in 11 consecutive games. The last time the Eagles allowed four runs or less was on April 9, when they beat Miami 8-1.
» House pitched six innings to make him be the winning pitcher over the Purple Eagles. The win is Houses' first victory since March 4, when the Eagles beat Towson on the road. Furthermore, it is the first time in his entire Eastern Michigan career that House won a game while pitching at least six innings.
» House has now pitched 51 innings this season. His 51 innings are the second most innings he has pitched in any season in his five-year collegiate baseball career. The righty is also on track to have more strikeouts than innings pitched this season, with 54 strikeouts so far in 51 innings.

Historical Notes
» Friday afternoon's contest marks just the fourth all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Niagara. While also being the first appearance EMU has made at Niagara University. After Friday's victory, the Eagles remain perfect when facing the Purple Eagles, now boasting a 4-0 all-time record.
» Today's win marks the third win in the state of New York for the Eagles in the Head Coach Eric Roof era. After sweeping St. Bonaventure University in a doubleheader, May 1, 2021, the Green and White are a perfect 3-0 when playing in the empire state under Roof.
» The Eagles displayed their prolific base running Friday afternoon, stealing a season-high seven bases in the win. Seven bags are the most stolen in a single game by Eastern Michigan since they took nine from the University of Toledo Rockets, in a 6-5 win, April 28, 2019. Additionally, this vaults the Eagles up to fourth in the MAC with 73 stolen bases on the season.
» Kirk's second-inning homer marked the 27th of his Eastern Michigan career, putting the Milford, Ohio native just five home runs away from tying former Eagle Mitchell McGeein (2013-16) for fifth in the all-time EMU record book. Kirk tripled to shallow left field in the fifth inning, marking the second triple in the reigning MAC Player of the Year's EMU career. The left fielder finished the day with three RBIs for the fourth time in the 2023 season.
» With four at-bats today, Hopkins is now just three at-bats away from tying former Eagle Mike Mioduszewski (2014-17) for the number five spot in EMU history.
» As a team, Eastern Michigan has now had 10 or more hits in 11 of the last 13 games. The last time Eastern Michigan had 10 hits in 11 out 13 games was Feb. 26-March 17, 2010. During that stretch, Eastern Michigan played games against South Alabama, Wichita State, North Florida, South Alabama, Arkansas Little Rock, Belmont, Jacksonville State, and Michigan State.

Up Next
The Eagles and Purple Eagles will face off for the second time in their three-game series tomorrow, Saturday, April 29 at 12 p.m.

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Team Stats

Glenn Miller

Matt Kirk

Taylor Hopkins

Darren Kraft

Players Mentioned

Taylor Hopkins

Thomas House

Brady Huebbe

Logan Hugo

Matt Kirk

Darren Kraft

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Cooper Vance

Players Mentioned

Taylor Hopkins

Thomas House

Brady Huebbe

Logan Hugo

Matt Kirk

Darren Kraft

Blake McRae

Glenn Miller

Cooper Vance

Eastern Michigan Athletics