Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 18
Clemson, S.C.
4 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3
at
14
#4 Clemson
Zack Leonard
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Baseball Falls to Fourth-Ranked Clemson on Opening Day
2/18/2011 7:03:02 PM | Baseball
Senior Robert Wendzicki went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer in the loss
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a second inning three-run home run by senior infielder Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark), the Eastern Michigan University baseball team opened the 2011 season with a 14-3 setback to the fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers in front of 6,138 strong in the first of a three-game set at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
EMU starting pitcher Kendall Lewis (Huntsville, Ohio-Indian Lake) lasted just 2.2 innings as the high-potent Clemson offense tallied 16 hits on the day. The Tigers claim their first victory all-time against the Eagles (0-1) in the teams' first meeting since the 1976 College World Series.
So much for the new bat standards instituted by the NCAA this year – meant to deaden the “trampoline effect” of aluminum bats – as Clemson put four runs on the board in the first, highlighted by a leadoff home run from outfielder Chris Epps.
After the home run, three walks led to three more runs for the Tigers and the free pass became a recurring trend for the Eagles. Of the 10 walks allowed by the EMU pitching staff, seven wound up coming around to score.
After falling behind, 4-0, Wendzicki then stepped to the plate and provided the highlight of the day for the Green and White as he blasted a second inning, three-run home run to the opposite field in left to cut the deficit to 4-3. That would be as close as the score got as the Tigers (0-1) put together big inning after big inning en route to the lopsided victory.
Clemson added three runs in each the third and fourth innings to break the game open. Shortstop Brad Miller went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored. Jason Stolz, Will Lamb, Dominic Attanasio and Jon McGibbon also added multi-hit games for the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Tiger starting pitcher Scott Weismann went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk in picking up the victory. As a staff, Clemson allowed just seven hits and struck out five while walking only one.
Junior left-hander Collin Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio-Lakota West) relieved Lewis on the mound, but suffered similar fate as he lasted just a third of an inning after allowing three runs on a hit and four walks. Neil Butara (Euclid, Ohio-St. Ignatius) followed with 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits.
The Eagles can take a little momentum with them into tomorrow as sophomore Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) and senior Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) finished the game by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.
At the plate, aside from Wendzicki going 1-for-3 with a home run, senior infielder Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian), Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon -Glendale C.C.), Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) and Kyle Peterson (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) each added a hit as well.
The Eagles and Tigers will be back in action tomorrow as the left-hander Wendzicki will lead the Green and White on the mound. He will go up against Clemson right-hander Dominic Leone. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
CLEMSON, S.C. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite a second inning three-run home run by senior infielder Robert Wendzicki (Brook Park, Ohio-Midpark), the Eastern Michigan University baseball team opened the 2011 season with a 14-3 setback to the fourth-ranked Clemson Tigers in front of 6,138 strong in the first of a three-game set at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
EMU starting pitcher Kendall Lewis (Huntsville, Ohio-Indian Lake) lasted just 2.2 innings as the high-potent Clemson offense tallied 16 hits on the day. The Tigers claim their first victory all-time against the Eagles (0-1) in the teams' first meeting since the 1976 College World Series.
So much for the new bat standards instituted by the NCAA this year – meant to deaden the “trampoline effect” of aluminum bats – as Clemson put four runs on the board in the first, highlighted by a leadoff home run from outfielder Chris Epps.
After the home run, three walks led to three more runs for the Tigers and the free pass became a recurring trend for the Eagles. Of the 10 walks allowed by the EMU pitching staff, seven wound up coming around to score.
After falling behind, 4-0, Wendzicki then stepped to the plate and provided the highlight of the day for the Green and White as he blasted a second inning, three-run home run to the opposite field in left to cut the deficit to 4-3. That would be as close as the score got as the Tigers (0-1) put together big inning after big inning en route to the lopsided victory.
Clemson added three runs in each the third and fourth innings to break the game open. Shortstop Brad Miller went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored. Jason Stolz, Will Lamb, Dominic Attanasio and Jon McGibbon also added multi-hit games for the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Tiger starting pitcher Scott Weismann went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk in picking up the victory. As a staff, Clemson allowed just seven hits and struck out five while walking only one.
Junior left-hander Collin Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio-Lakota West) relieved Lewis on the mound, but suffered similar fate as he lasted just a third of an inning after allowing three runs on a hit and four walks. Neil Butara (Euclid, Ohio-St. Ignatius) followed with 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits.
The Eagles can take a little momentum with them into tomorrow as sophomore Sam Ott (Canton, Mich.-Salem) and senior Corey Chaffins (New London, Ohio-New London) finished the game by pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.
At the plate, aside from Wendzicki going 1-for-3 with a home run, senior infielder Zack Leonard (Canton, Ohio-McKinley) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Brent Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian), Tucker Rubino (Scottsdale, Ariz.-Horizon -Glendale C.C.), Ben Magsig (Okemos, Mich.-Okemos-Lansing C.C.) and Kyle Peterson (Chandler, Ariz.-Hamilton-Chandler-Gilbert C.C.) each added a hit as well.
The Eagles and Tigers will be back in action tomorrow as the left-hander Wendzicki will lead the Green and White on the mound. He will go up against Clemson right-hander Dominic Leone. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
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