Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 19
Birmingham, Ala.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4-15
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Samford
12-7
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Eastern Michigan
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Samford
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Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eagles Claim Victory In Series Finale over Samford, 8-3
3/19/2017 4:11:00 PM | Baseball
EMU used the strength of two home runs from Jeremy Stidham in the win
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University baseball team ended the weekend on a high note with an 8-3 victory over Samford University in the series finale Sunday afternoon, March 19, at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
A combination of big time hitting and crafty pitching got the job done for the Eagles (4-15). Seniors Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) and Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) each had three-hit games, including two homers, three RBI's, and three runs scored from Stidham, as well as a homer, double, and two runs scored for Peterson. Both now have two homers on the season, and Stidham has 10 for his EMU career.
On the bump, the duo of junior starter Brent Mattson (Canton, Mich.-Canton) and freshman James Harness (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) kept the Bulldog (12-7) bats at bay most of the contest. Mattson took a no decision after going a career-high 6.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two. Harness picked up his first EMU win in relief, going the final 2.1 without yielding a run on two hits and one K, including no walks.
The Eagles were able to get on the board first with some tricky base running in the second inning. After sophomore Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) was hit by a pitch and freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) singled him to third, Peggs attempted to steal second, which allowed Schuemann to scamper home for the first run of the game.
SU put runners on base in the first and second innings, but two double plays turned by the combo of Schuemann and Peggs kept it 1-0 through two. Another run crossed in the top of the third as EMU capitalized on Samford miscues. Redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) reached as the leadoff man on an error, and got to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), came through with a line drive single to center to plate Gill and make it 2-0 Eagles.
Following scoreless third and fourth innings from Mattson, Samford broke through in the fifth, tying the game on EMU miscues. Back-to-back singles started things off, with the later base hit being misplayed in right field, leading to runners on the corners. A safety squeeze brought home the first run. The second crossed after a groundout got the runner to third, and a wild pitch allowed him to score.
The tie was short lived though, as Stidham blasted a solo shot to left field to lead off the sixth. His first of the season made it 3-2 into the middle of the sixth. Mattson bounced back with a 1-2-3 sixth to keep the one run advantage in the late innings.
Out for his seventh inning of work, Mattson was chased from the game with two walks to lead off the frame. The walks proved costly, as Samford was able to tie the game later on with an RBI single, making it a new ball game with just two innings to go.
EMU used the long ball once again to take their third lead of the game, this time off the bat of Peterson. The veteran cranked his second of the season out to left center, and EMU found themselves back up by one. The offense wasn't done though, tagging the Bulldogs for another two runs later on in the inning. After loading up the bags on two singles and a walk, Peggs plated one on a sac fly. Another walk loaded them back up, and another sacrifice fly, this time from redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter), made it a 6-3 ballgame.
Harness went 1-2-3 in the eighth and EMU looked for some insurance in the ninth. They got it from Stidham, as the senior notched his second homer of the afternoon, a two-run bomb to left center, making it 8-3 with just three outs left to get. Harness locked down the SU bats in the ninth to get his first win as an Eagle and secure the 8-3 victory.
The Eagles now have the midweek off before preparing for the start of Mid-American Conference play next weekend against Bowling Green. The series will serve as the home opener, and will begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch, Friday, March 24.
A combination of big time hitting and crafty pitching got the job done for the Eagles (4-15). Seniors Jeremy Stidham (Colorado Springs, Colo.-Sand Creek (Colby C.C.)) and Jordan Peterson (Gilbert, Ariz.-Highland (Chandler-Gilbert C.C.)) each had three-hit games, including two homers, three RBI's, and three runs scored from Stidham, as well as a homer, double, and two runs scored for Peterson. Both now have two homers on the season, and Stidham has 10 for his EMU career.
On the bump, the duo of junior starter Brent Mattson (Canton, Mich.-Canton) and freshman James Harness (Huber Heights, Ohio-Wayne) kept the Bulldog (12-7) bats at bay most of the contest. Mattson took a no decision after going a career-high 6.1 innings allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two. Harness picked up his first EMU win in relief, going the final 2.1 without yielding a run on two hits and one K, including no walks.
The Eagles were able to get on the board first with some tricky base running in the second inning. After sophomore Max Schuemann (Portage, Mich.-Portage Northern) was hit by a pitch and freshman Drake Peggs (Knightstown, Ind.-Knightstown) singled him to third, Peggs attempted to steal second, which allowed Schuemann to scamper home for the first run of the game.
SU put runners on base in the first and second innings, but two double plays turned by the combo of Schuemann and Peggs kept it 1-0 through two. Another run crossed in the top of the third as EMU capitalized on Samford miscues. Redshirt senior Marquise Gill (Paw Paw, Mich.-Paw Paw) reached as the leadoff man on an error, and got to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, senior John Montgomery (Anaheim Hills, Calif.-JSerra), came through with a line drive single to center to plate Gill and make it 2-0 Eagles.
Following scoreless third and fourth innings from Mattson, Samford broke through in the fifth, tying the game on EMU miscues. Back-to-back singles started things off, with the later base hit being misplayed in right field, leading to runners on the corners. A safety squeeze brought home the first run. The second crossed after a groundout got the runner to third, and a wild pitch allowed him to score.
The tie was short lived though, as Stidham blasted a solo shot to left field to lead off the sixth. His first of the season made it 3-2 into the middle of the sixth. Mattson bounced back with a 1-2-3 sixth to keep the one run advantage in the late innings.
Out for his seventh inning of work, Mattson was chased from the game with two walks to lead off the frame. The walks proved costly, as Samford was able to tie the game later on with an RBI single, making it a new ball game with just two innings to go.
EMU used the long ball once again to take their third lead of the game, this time off the bat of Peterson. The veteran cranked his second of the season out to left center, and EMU found themselves back up by one. The offense wasn't done though, tagging the Bulldogs for another two runs later on in the inning. After loading up the bags on two singles and a walk, Peggs plated one on a sac fly. Another walk loaded them back up, and another sacrifice fly, this time from redshirt senior Mike Mioduszewski (Dexter, Mich.-Dexter), made it a 6-3 ballgame.
Harness went 1-2-3 in the eighth and EMU looked for some insurance in the ninth. They got it from Stidham, as the senior notched his second homer of the afternoon, a two-run bomb to left center, making it 8-3 with just three outs left to get. Harness locked down the SU bats in the ninth to get his first win as an Eagle and secure the 8-3 victory.
The Eagles now have the midweek off before preparing for the start of Mid-American Conference play next weekend against Bowling Green. The series will serve as the home opener, and will begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch, Friday, March 24.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harness, James (1-2)
L: Tristan Widra (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Peterson, Jordan 1
HR: Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Stidham, Jeremy 2
RBI: Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Montgomery, John 1 ; Peterson, Jordan 1 ; Stidham, Jeremy 3 ; Peggs, Drake 1
SF: Mioduszewski, Mike 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gill, Marquise 1 ; Peterson, Jordan 2 ; Stidham, Jeremy 3 ; Owings, Zachary 1 ; Schuemann, Max 1
SB: Gill, Marquise 1 ; Schuemann, Max 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
CS: Gill, Marquise 1 ; Peggs, Drake 1
HBP: Schuemann, Max 1
PO: Schuemann, Max 1
Batting:
2B: Sam Teague 1
RBI: Taylor Garris 2
SH: Taylor Garris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan Fucci 2 ; Ryan Crockett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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