Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
27-26, 0
Northern Illinois
10-43, 0
Baseball Sweeps NIU to Claim First Winning Season Since 2011
5/20/2023 4:09:00 PM | Baseball
The Eagles finished with 27 wins, four series sweeps, and six series wins
Senior Celebration Photos | Game Photos
Re-Watch the Game.
Highlight Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University baseball team closed its season on a high note, defeating Northern Illinois University, 7-1, today inside Oestrike Stadium to finish the season with a three-game sweep of the Huskies and four consecutive wins overall.
With the win, Eastern (27-26, 12-18 MAC) notched its first winning season since the 2011 campaign. The season included four series sweeps, and six series wins overall. The day was also one of celebration for the 10 EMU baseball seniors that played their last game inside Oestrike Stadium today.
Sophomore Josh Kross (Brunswick, Ohio-Brunswick-Toledo) collected four RBIs to help power the Eagles past Huskies. On the mound Freshman Sam Reed (Carmel, Ind.-Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) (3-3) got the win for Eastern Michigan. The left-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing three walks and striking out seven. Junior Jagger Jefferies (Barnesville, Ohio-Barnesville-Bryant & Stratton C.C.) also pitched well, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out three.
Kross went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Eagles. Senior Aaron Dolney (Plymouth, Mich.-Detroit Country Day-Nebraska-Hillsborough C.C.) put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Junior Cory Taylor (Shelbyville, Ind.-Shelbyville) also contributed for Eastern Michigan, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and an RBI.
How it Happened
The Eagles put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the fourth inning. Dolney put Eastern Michigan on the board with a leadoff home run off senior Brandon McPherson.
The Eagles then held the Huskies scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Eastern Michigan scored twice on Kross' two-run homer, which brought the Eagles lead to 3-0.
Eastern Michigan held Northern Illinois scoreless before building their lead to 6-0 the following inning. The Eagles notched three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run single off the bat of Kross.
The Huskies fought back, closing the gap to 6-1 until Eastern Michigan added some insurance in the seventh. The Eagles recorded a run on Taylor's leadoff home run off junior Jacob Draeger, bringing the Eastern Michigan advantage to 7-1. The score remained 7-1 for the rest of the game, as the Eagles coasted to the win.
Game Notes
» Kross smoked his 18th double of the season out to right center field to kick start the offense for Eastern Saturday afternoon. The sophomore's first inning double marks the 124th of the season for the Eagles. Furthermore, 125 two-baggers are the most in the Head Coach Eric Roof era (2018-Pres.) and ranks second in the Mid-American Conference behind Kent State University, who has knocked 127 this season.
» Dolney homered to center field in the fourth inning for his 10th deep shot of the season. After sending seven out of the park last season, the catcher has increased his power this season, capturing his first double-digit season in homers as an Eagle. Dolney joins teammates Matt Kirk (Milford, Ohio-Milford-Cypress-Toledo) (11) and Kross (14) as EMU batters with double digit home runs in the 2023 campaign.
» Kross followed Dolney's fourth-inning homer with one of his own in the fifth, for his 15th home run this season, bringing his RBI total to 68 on the season. The Brunswick, Ohio native drove in two more runs the remainder of the contest, ending the season with 70 RBIs and 86 hits. Kross ended the day with four RBIs, marking the fifth time this season the switch hitter has notched four or more RBIs in a single game, the most of any Eagle this season.
» Kirk drilled a double down the right field line in the fifth for his 24th two-bagger this season.
» Taylor sent a solo shot to center field in the EMU half of the seventh, marking the junior's seventh home run and 32nd RBI of the 2023 campaign.
» Reed had another solid outing today, allowing one run on four hits while issuing just three walks and tying a career-high with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Historical Notes
» Saturday afternoon's contest marks the 137th all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. After today's victory, the Eagles hold an 83-54 record when facing the Huskies.
» EMU earned its 27th victory of the season today, marking the most wins under Head Coach Eric Roof (2018-Pres.). Today's win marks Eastern Michigan's first winning season since 2011, when Eastern went 37-22 with a 16-11 conference record.
» With three at-bats Saturday afternoon, Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) finishes his EMU career (2019-Pres.) with 805 at-bats ranking the Mason, Ohio native third all-time in career at-bats in Eastern Michigan baseball history.
» Kross finished the season ranking tied for second in single-season RBIs (70) and tied for fifth in single-season hits (86) in EMU baseball history.
» Kirk finishes his career owning multiple entries in the EMU record book. He ranks first in single-season doubles with 25 last season, and second with 23 two-baggers this season. The slugging graduate student finished his EMU career with 49 doubles, ranking sixth in the all-time career leaderboards. Lastly, the Milford, Ohio native also wrapped up his EMU career with more extra-base-hits (79) than strikeouts (70).
» Today's win marks the first time the Green and White have ended a MAC season on a four-game win streak since the 2008 team swept the conference tournament facing Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Kent State en route to capturing the program's fourth MAC tournament title.
» Saturday afternoon's win marks the sixth series victory for the Eagles this season. This ties the 2018 squad for the most series wins in the Head Coach Eric Roof tenure, as they 2018 team also took six series throughout the season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reed, Sam (3-3)
L: MCPHERSON, Brandon (2-3)
Batting:
2B: ERATO, Eric 1
RBI: ERATO, Eric 1
SF: ERATO, Eric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BARTEL, Spencer 1
CS: ERATO, Eric 1 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
HBP: BARTEL, Spencer 1 ; THIERRY, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 1
HR: Kross, Josh 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1
RBI: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 4 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Glenn 1 ; Kirk, Matt 1 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Dolney, Aaron 2 ; Schroedle, Kyle 1
CS: Hopkins, Taylor 1
HBP: Kirk, Matt 1 ; Hugo, Logan 1
