Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
1-2
Belmont
2-1
Britt Picks Up First Victory as EMU Splits Doubleheader at Belmont
2/18/2024 6:11:00 PM | Baseball
Eastern recorded a conference-high 16 runs in the first game
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (EMUEagles.com) – First-year Head Coach Robbie Britt picked up his first victory in charge of the program, as the Eastern Michigan University baseball team split a doubleheader against Belmont University today, Sunday, Feb. 18, at E.S. Rose Park. The Eagles took the first game, 16-6, while the Bruins won the second, 9-7.
After the two games, Eastern Michigan's record shifts to 1-3 (0-0 MAC), and the Bruins adjust to 3-1 (0-0 MVC).
How it Happened: Game One
Eastern started hot offensively, plating five runs in the first inning and eight overall through the first two frames.
The Bruins then tacked on one run in their half of the second while the Eagles added one in the third. Eastern would score two in the fourth via Giano Zuccaro (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Berea Midpark/Charleston) and Kyle Schroedle (Redding, Calif./University Prep/Crown College) each homering in the inning.
The Eagles added three runs in the seventh, increasing their lead to 14.
Belmont would score four runs in its half of the seventh, eventually falling to EMU, 16-6.
How it Happened: Game Two
The Eagles were trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Eastern Michigan's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Lucas Johnson (Hamilton, Ontario/Westdale Secondary/Wright State).
The Bruins then scored two runs to retake their advantage heading into the sixth inning, when the Eagles responded by getting back on the scoreboard themselves. Eastern Michigan scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Darren Kraft (Mount Pleasant, S.C./Oceanside Collegiate Academy), which brought the score to 7-6 in favor of the Eagles.
The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as Belmont scored three times over the remaining inning to grab the 9-7 win.
Game Notes: Game One
» Eastern opened up the game with a five-run first inning, five runs in a single inning stands as the most from the Eagles this season, and would also hold as the most runs scored in a game so far in 2024.
» Schroedle homered in the first, scoring two Eagles, marking the first home run of the year from the Eagles. He would do so again in the fourth inning, securing his second game as an Eagle with two homers and his first of the 2024 season. Schroedle is now one of two MAC players with multiple home runs this season, along with Ohio University's AJ Rausch. Moreover, the graduate student is the only player in the conference this season with two homers in a single game.
» Glenn Miller (Pentwater, Mich./Pentwater/Spring Arbor) secured his first extra-base hit of the season, doubling down the left field line to score Brendan Kleiman (Olney, Md./Sherwood/Frederick C.C.), increasing Eastern's lead to six in the top of the second inning.
» EMU posted eight runs in the first two innings for the first time since they also scored eight in the first two frames in a 15-8 win over Kent State in the final game of the 2022 regular season, May 21.
» With a double to left field in the top half of the third, Aidan Arbogast (Livonia, Mich. Stevenson/Mid-Michigan Kellogg C.C.) secured the first hit and extra-base hit of his Eastern career. Joining Arbogast with their first hit as an Eagle is Kleiman, who singled in the third.
» Finishing the first game 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Miller captured his first multi-hit and multi-RBI game of the season. Last season, Miller tabbed 14 multi-hit games and 4 games with two RBIs. Additionally, game one of the doubleheader marked Miller's fourth game in his Eastern tenure with multiple hits and RBIs.
» Zuccaro homered to right field in the fourth inning, scoring Cooper Vance (New Waterford, Ohio/Mohawk). The home run stands as Zuccaro's first as an Eagle. Finishing the first game 2-for-3 with three RBIs, one double, and one home run, the junior has secured a hit and RBI in every game this season. With his performance in game one, he tabbed his first outing with multiple extra-base hits at EMU.
» The EMU offense was hot in game one of the doubleheader, posting season-highs in hits (14); runs (16); RBIs (13); home runs (3); extra-base hits (10); and walks (7).
» With 16 runs in the first game, the Eagles have scored the most runs in a single game in the conference this season, while also recording the most doubles (7); second-most home runs (3); and the second-most RBIs (14).
» Niko Kreuzer (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis Desales) saw his first collegiate action in game one, relieving Chittum after five innings of work. Kreuzer tossed the final two innings, striking out one Bruins batter.
» Eastern excelled in nearly every situation at the plate, batting .389 overall, .360 with runners on base, .333 with runners in scoring position, .333 with the bases loaded, and .536 in advancement opportunities.
» Vance and Zuccaro each scored three runs, marking the first time the Eagles had two players score three runs each in a single game since former Eagle Matt Kirk and Schroedle each tabbed three against Oakland, May 16, 2022. Three runs is also the most from an individual player in a single game this season for EMU.
Game Notes: Game Two
» Drew Jones (Cleveland, Ohio/Brush/Ohio State) got the start on the mound for the first time in his collegiate career. The sophomore right-hander struck out two opposing batters, allowed four hits, and two earned runs while walking three Bruins in three innings of work.
» Kraft kicked off the Eagles' fourth inning, singling through the right side to score Vance, securing his first RBI of the 2024 campaign. Johnson joined Kraft, also knocking a single, this time scoring two Eagles for Johnson's first two RBIs with EMU. Logan Hugo (Essexville, Mich./Essexville Garber) also notched his first RBI of the season via a sacrifice-fly to left field in the fourth.
» Isiah Lindsey (Nunica, Mich./Spring Lake/Lake Michigan/Lansing C.C.) saw his first appearance on the mound as an Eagle. Lindsey relieved Aaron Pirkle (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany/Akron) in the bottom of the fourth, after pitching his way out of a bases loaded jam, the senior transfer struck out two while allowing three hits, three earned runs, and walking three in 2.1 IP.
» Kraft homered for the first time this season in the top of the sixth, scoring Blake McRae (Armada, Mich./Romeo/Lansing C.C.) in the process. Kraft's homer is his first of the season and the Eagles' fourth of the day and the 2024 campaign. Last season, Kraft didn't secure his first home run until April 4, a 9-2 win over Akron.
» Finishing the second game with 10 hits, the Eagles tabbed consecutive games with double-digit hits for the first time in the 2024 season.
» McRae, Kraft, and Johnson each churned out multi-hit games, marking the second of the year from McRae and Johnson and the first of the season from Kraft.
» Hugo swiped two bases in a single game for the first time in his collegiate career, it is also the first occasion of any Eagle doing so in a single game this season.
» The Eagles batted .357 as a team; .571 in lead-off opportunities; and a perfect 1.000 when the bases were loaded and with a runner on third with less than two outs. Eastern was also productive at the plate against left-handers, securing hits in 7-of-10 chances.
Historical Notes
» The 16-6 win in game one marks the first win of the Head Coach Robbie Britt era.
» Eastern won a game by 10 or more runs for the first time since April 29, 2023, when they topped the Purple Eagles of Niagara, 12-2 in western New York.
Up Next
The Eagles will return to the diamond, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 23-25, as they are set for a three-game series against the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Duby (1-0)
L: Lindsey, Isiah (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Kraft, Darren 1
RBI: Hugo, Logan 1 ; Taylor, Cory 1 ; Kraft, Darren 3 ; Johnson, Lucas 2
SF: Hugo, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vance, Cooper 1 ; Zuccaro, Giano 1 ; McRae, Blake 2 ; Kraft, Darren 2 ; Johnson, Lucas 1
SB: Hugo, Logan 2
Batting:
HR: Daniel 1
RBI: Daniel 2 ; Heaton 1 ; Landers 2 ; Jones 2 ; Barton 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Daniel 3 ; Godsey 1 ; Blessinger 2 ; Heaton 1 ; Landers 1 ; Galason 1
SB: Landers 2 ; Barton 1 ; Galason 1
HBP: Heaton 1
